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'{{Brevard County in Florida,is now run by the Cartel.....they use there planes to trap ur phone signals and it also helps for there human trafficking and there drug shipments they also have the candian cult that helps them with there frequency weapons and there intimadation tactics lets not forget all the constructiong going on around town thats most of there fabricated buissness they made so they can launder money can't have dirty money The blackmailing of the citizens must have been easy most the male citzens are gay...smh...the women all have jungle fever Roar!!!!!! The gangstalking is mildly annoying to say the least Jordan Summers is the only real man/human being in the town they couldnt black mail because he is proud of who he is...so the town usually gang upon him we got freemansons also so if u love the occult and sex with animals we got u covered so if u love liars fentanyl and snicker lickers have we got the town for you youre first Xanax is free united States}}|County in Florida, United States}} {{Distinguish|Broward County, Florida}} {{Update|date=March 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Brevard County | state = Florida | ex image = Titusville, FL, Courthouse, Brevard County, 08-07-2010 (5).JPG | ex image size = 220px | ex image cap = Historic Brevard County Courthouse in [[Titusville, Florida|Titusville]]. | type = [[List of counties in Florida|County]] | flag = Flag of Brevard County, Florida.png | seal = Seal of Brevard County, Florida.png | logo = Logo of Brevard County, Florida.png | founded year = 1844 | founded date = March 14 | seat wl = Titusville | largest city wl = Palm Bay | area_total_sq_mi = 1557 | area_land_sq_mi = 1016 | area_water_sq_mi = 541 | area percentage = 34.8 | census estimate yr = 2020 | pop = 606392 | density_sq_mi = 597 | web = https://www.brevardfl.gov/ | district = 8th | time zone = Eastern | named for = [[Theodorus W. Brevard]] }} '''Brevard County''' is located in the east central portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Florida]]. As of the 2020, the population was 606,392, making it the 10th most populated county in Florida.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=John |last2=Sweilem |first2=Amira |title=New Census data shows Brevard following national trend of greater diversity |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2021/08/12/census-data-shows-brevard-county-more-diverse/8112881002/?utm_source=floridatoday-Daily%20Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=list_article_headline&utm_content=1028FT-E-NLETTER65 |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=Florida Today}}</ref><ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/brevardcountyflorida |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref> The official [[county seat]] has been located in [[Titusville, Florida|Titusville]] since 1894.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> Brevard County comprises the [[Palm Bay, Florida|Palm Bay]]–[[Melbourne, Florida|Melbourne]]–Titusville, FL [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It is located along the east Florida coast and bordered by the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. With an economy strongly influenced by the [[Kennedy Space Center|John F. Kennedy Space Center]], Brevard County is also known as the [[Space Coast]]. As such, it was designated with the telephone [[area code 321]], as in "[[Countdown#Rocketry|3, 2, 1 liftoff]]". The county is named after [[Theodore W. Brevard|Theodore Washington Brevard]], an early Florida settler and [[Florida Comptroller|state comptroller]]. A secondary center of county administrative offices was built beginning in 1989 in [[Viera, Florida]], a master planned community in an unincorporated area. The county offices were developed to serve the more populous southern part of the long county. {{TOC limit|3}} == History == {{Main|History of Brevard County, Florida}} The prehistory of Brevard County begins with the native cultures living in the area for thousands of years prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century. The [[Windover Archeological Site]], discovered in 1982, was found during excavation to have the largest collection of human remains and artifacts of the early [[Archaic period in North America|Archaic Period]] (6,000-5,000 BCE), or more than 8,000 years before present. It has been designated as a [[National Historic Landmark]]. The geographic boundaries of the county have changed significantly since its founding by European Americans in the 19th century. The county is named for Judge [[Theodorus W. Brevard|Theodore W. Brevard]], an early settler and [[Florida Comptroller|state comptroller]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Publications of the Florida Historical Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZQ-AAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA30 |year=1908 |publisher=Florida Historical Society |page=30}}</ref> == Geography == [[File:Monument US 1 Brevard Volusia county line.jpg|upright|thumb|The Brevard-Volusia county line]] According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1557|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1016|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|541|sqmi}} (34.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=April 23, 2011 |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> Most of the water is the [[Atlantic Ocean]], the [[St. Johns River]] and the [[Indian River Lagoon]]. The county is larger in area than the nation of [[Samoa]] and nearly the same size, and population, as [[Cape Verde]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/world_statistics_by_area.htm |title=List of Countries by Land Mass – Ranked by Area |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> It is roughly the size of the state of [[Rhode Island]]. Located halfway between [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]] and [[Miami]], Brevard County extends {{convert|72|mi|km}} from north to south, and averages {{convert|26.5|mi}} wide. Marshes in the western part of this county are the source of the St. Johns River. Emphasizing its position as halfway down Florida are two roads that have been numbered halfway down Florida's numbering system, State Road 50 and State Road 500. The [[Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway]] along the eastern edge of Brevard County is the major [[waterway]] route in Brevard County. It includes the [[Indian River (Florida)|Indian River]]. Additional waterways include [[Lake Washington (Florida)|Lake Washington]], [[Lake Poinsett (Florida)|Lake Poinsett]], [[Lake Winder]], [[Sawgrass Lake]], the St. Johns River, and the [[Banana River]]. Dredging for the Intracoastal created 41 [[Dredging#Environmental impacts|spoil islands]] in the Brevard portion of the Indian River.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://spoilislandproject.org/ |title=History |access-date=December 10, 2016 |date=2012 |work=Spoil Island Project. Indian River Lagoon}}</ref> Brevard County is the sole county in the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area (formerly the Melbourne-Titusville-Cocoa, Florida Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area and Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area). There is no major urban center.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Keep SCAT rolling |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101202/OPINION/12020307/Keep-SCAT-rolling |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=10A |date=December 2, 2010 }}</ref> The county is unofficially divided into three sections: North County, comprising [[Titusville, Florida|Titusville]], [[Mims, Florida|Mims]] and [[Port St. John, Florida|Port St. John]]; Central Brevard, which includes [[Cocoa, Florida|Cocoa]], [[Rockledge, Florida|Rockledge]], [[Merritt Island, Florida|Merritt Island]], and [[Cocoa Beach, Florida|Cocoa Beach]]; and South County, which includes [[Melbourne, Florida|Melbourne]], [[Palm Bay, Florida|Palm Bay]], [[Grant, Florida|Grant]], [[Valkaria, Florida|Valkaria]], and the [[South Beaches]]. The South Beaches is a term that measures direction south from the dividing line of [[Patrick Space Force Base]], and includes [[South Patrick Shores, Florida|South Patrick Shores]], [[Satellite Beach, Florida|Satellite Beach]], [[Indian Harbour Beach, Florida|Indian Harbour Beach]], [[Indialantic, Florida|Indialantic]], and [[Melbourne Beach, Florida|Melbourne Beach]]. The county government has historically labeled the beach areas differently. The North Reach includes {{convert|9.4|mi}} in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. The Patrick Space Force Base beach is {{convert|4.1|mi}}. The Mid Reach includes the {{convert|7.6|mi}} in Satellite Beach. The South Reach includes the {{convert|3.8|mi}} in Indialantic and Melbourne Beach. The South Beaches include {{convert|14.5|mi}} south of Melbourne Beach to [[Sebastian, Florida|Sebastian]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Virginia |last=Barker |title=Beach and Dune Erosion |url=http://www.brevardcounty.us/natres/BeachErosionStaffReport.pdf.pdf |publisher=Brevard County Board of Commissioners |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=5 |date=October 31, 2007 }}</ref> The [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] considered two proposals in 2012 to officially name the [[barrier island]] extending from [[Port Canaveral]] to [[Sebastian Inlet]]. The {{convert|45|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} island includes the cities of Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Patrick Space Force Base, Indian Harbour Beach, and Satellite Beach. The American Indian Association of Florida submitted in October 2011 a proposal to name the island after the [[Ais people]]. In January 2012 the United Third Bridge and the Florida Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Melbourne submitted a proposal to name the island after Spanish explorer [[Juan Ponce de León]]. The Board of Geographic Names usually takes at least eight months to decide on a new name for a geographical feature.<ref>{{cite news |last=Neale |first=Rick |title=Lines drawn over naming of Brevard's barrier island: Ponce de León and Ais Indians in the running |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120114/NEWS01/301140020/Lines-drawn-over-naming-Brevard-s-barrier-island?odyssey=nav%7Chead |access-date=January 14, 2012 |newspaper=Florida Today |date=January 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116040539/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120114/NEWS01/301140020/Lines-drawn-over-naming-Brevard-s-barrier-island?odyssey=nav%7Chead |archive-date=January 16, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are 16 municipalities. The largest by population is Palm Bay, the smallest Melbourne Village.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Heale |title=Brevard's 17th municipality? |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100121/NEWS01/1210329/-1/mmxbillboardtest/South-Brevard-s-Barefoot-Bay-seeks-city-status |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=January 21, 2010 }}</ref> The county has nine major canals.<!---don't know how to distinguish major from minor---> Some of these, such as the C-1 and C-54, are {{convert|100|feet}} wide, giving them the capacity to handle excessive rainfall that may accompany tropical storms or hurricanes.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=What if Brevard got hit by 50 inches of rain? Imagine the unimaginable |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/environment/2017/08/31/what-if-brevard-got-hit-50-inches-rain-imagine-unimaginable/620155001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=September 1, 2017 |access-date=September 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://florida.hometownlocator.com/features/cultural,class,canal,scfips,12009.cfm |title=Brevard County Florida Canals |publisher=Florida.hometownlocator.com |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> The following are regularly used for transportation and drainage: * [[Canaveral Barge Canal]], [[Courtenay, Florida|Courtenay]] – transportation * Faulk Canal, Rockledge * Grand Canal, [[Tropic, Florida|Tropic]] * [[Haulover Canal]], Mims – transportation * Melbourne Tillman Canal, Melbourne West – drainage * Old Canal, Wilson * C-1 (Canal 1), which is maintained by the Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.floridaswater.com/upperstjohnsriver/C1rediversion.html |title=The Canal 1 Rediversion Project |publisher=Floridaswater.com |date=November 16, 2012 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214223854/http://floridaswater.com/upperstjohnsriver/C1rediversion.html |archive-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> * C-54 Canal – on the south Brevard County Line – drainage * L-15 Canal – [[Crane Creek (Melbourne, Florida)|Crane Creek]] Drainage District<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.melbourneflorida.org/meet/ccarchive/cc2006_0808.pdf |title=City of Melbourne, Florida; Minutes – Regular Meeting before City Council |date=August 8, 2006 |access-date=November 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617072216/http://www.melbourneflorida.org/meet/ccarchive/cc2006_0808.pdf |archive-date=June 17, 2012}}</ref> which has a watershed of about {{convert|12000|acres}}.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Scott |last=Gunnerson |title=Plan proposed replacing canal with pipes |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130225/NEWS01/302250013/Ellis-Road-plan-proposes-replacing-canal-pipes |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=[[Melbourne, Florida]] | pages=1B |date=February 25, 2013 }}</ref> === Geology === The underlying limestone in the county is relatively young at 150,000 years old. This means that the ground will not develop the [[sinkhole]]s that are prevalent in the spine of Florida, where limestone is from 15 to 25 million years old.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Tyler |last=Vazquez |title=The Hole Truth |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/27/experts-say-sinkholes-unlikely-brevard-county/704151001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,2A |date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref> The soil contains high levels of [[phosphorus]].<!-- To what effect? --><ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Campaign taps kids for water well-being |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012304020042 |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=April 2, 2012 }}</ref> === Climate === The county has a [[Köppen climate classification]] of Cf with a year-round distribution of rainfall. This means a [[humid subtropical climate]] with hot, humid summers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/?n=wetdryseason |title=The Onset of the Wet and Dry Seasons in East Central Florida- A Subtropical Wet-Dry Climate? |first=Randy |last=Lascody |date=March 2002 |work=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Melbourne, FL |publisher=NOAA }}</ref> There are distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry lasts from December through May, the wet from June through November. During the dry season, periods of drought often occur, and can lead to a persistent and high wild land fire threat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardcounty.us/FireRescue/Education/BrushFire |publisher=Brevard County Fire Rescue |title=Brevard County Fire Rescue Brush Fire Information |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> In numerous instances these fires have caused property damage. Several fires in 2008 forced the evacuation of [[Bayside High School (Palm Bay, Florida)|Bayside High School]], in the town of [[Palm Bay, Florida|Palm Bay]]. In that particular event, 162 homes were damaged.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/13/florida.wildfires/ |publisher=CNN |title=Blazes coming under control in Florida, officials say |date=May 14, 2008}}</ref> January is the coldest month, with an average low of {{convert|50.7|°F|°C}} and an average high {{convert|71|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. The warmest months are July and August with average highs of {{convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and average lows of {{convert|72.2|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. The driest month is April with {{convert|1.6|in|cm}} of rainfall; the wettest is September, with {{convert|6.6|in|cm}}.<ref>Space Coast Visitor's Guide,''Florida Today'',2007 Winter/Sprint Edition</ref> Offshore ocean temperatures have averaged: January – {{convert|64|F}}, February – {{convert|62|F}}, March – {{convert|67|F}} and April – {{convert|72|F}}.<ref>{{Cite news |title=South Brevard County |work=Space Coast Edition |publisher=Travelhost |location=Dallas, TX |page=26 |date=January–April 2010 }}</ref> Florida is a large subtropical state that is regularly affected by [[hurricane]]s. Although Brevard County is located along Florida's eastern peninsula, because of associated weather patterns, it is less frequently hit by direct hurricane landfalls than are portions of the [[Florida Panhandle|Panhandle]] or [[South Florida]]. There are two predominant reasons for this. First, westward-moving tropical systems often reach an atmospheric ridge weakness in the [[Azores High|Bermuda High]]<!---yes, they are equivalent.---> by the time they approach Florida at a latitude as northerly as Brevard County. Combined with frontal systems that exit the United States' [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]], many of these tropical systems are steered northwest and eventually curve northward offshore along Florida's East Central Coast. A second reason is that hurricanes making landfall along the Florida peninsula [[Gulf Coast]] often weaken to a tropical storm by the time they move northeast and reach Brevard County. (2004's [[Hurricane Charley|Charley]] was an exception). No major hurricane, defined as category 3 or higher, has struck Brevard since 1850, the beginning of recorded climate.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Chris |last=Bonanno |title=News |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Fl |pages=5D |date=March 21, 2016}}</ref> Although residents may refer to past storms as "hurricanes", by the time they strike the county, most have subsided to [[tropical storm]]s or [[tropical depression|depressions]]. But because of the threat of [[storm surge]], the beach community on the barrier island is often required to evacuate well in advance of the storm.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ocean-beach.com/weather_hurricanes.htm#Areas%20At%20Risk |title=Hurricanes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000919134156/http://ocean-beach.com/weather_hurricanes.htm |archive-date=September 19, 2000 |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> The possibility of storm surge is diminished when the storm comes across the state instead of directly from the Atlantic.<ref name="fl100527">{{Cite news |first=Matt |last=Read |title=Brevard emergency director Bob Lay: Get ready for storms, oil |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100527/COLUMNISTS0207/5270331/Lay-Prepare-for-storm-evacuations-tar-balls |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=May 27, 2010 |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> Five hurricanes have directly affected Brevard since 1950: [[Hurricane David|David]] (September 3, 1979); [[Hurricane Erin (1995)|Erin]] (August 2, 1995) – made landfall near [[Sebastian Inlet]] and caused mostly minor wind damage and more extensive flooding countywide; [[Hurricane Charley|Charley]] (August 13, 2004) – caused damage in Titusville and North Brevard; [[Hurricane Frances|Frances]] (September 3, 2004) – struck neighboring [[Vero Beach, Florida|Vero Beach]] in [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River County]] directly and caused widespread wind damage throughout Brevard;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1995erin.html |title=TPC NHC Erin 1995 Preliminary Report |website=noaa.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> and [[Hurricane Jeanne|Jeanne]] (September 26, 2004) – struck Vero Beach directly, following very nearly the same path as Frances. The latter two storms caused widespread damage in South Brevard, and resulted in $2.8&nbsp;billion in claim payments.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Weather, politics shook things up |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091231/NEWS01/912310317/1086/Stories+of+the+decade++Weather++politics+shook+things+up |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=December 31, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222034513/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091231/NEWS01/912310317/1086/Stories%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bdecade%2B%2BWeather%2B%2Bpolitics%2Bshook%2Bthings%2Bup |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Slightly more than half of one percent (0.6%) of houses were lost.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bebr.ufl.edu/FloridaFocus/FloridaFocus1_3_2005.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825002832/http://www.bebr.ufl.edu/FloridaFocus/FloridaFocus1_3_2005.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 25, 2006 |title=bebr.ufl.edu |website=ufl.edu |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> <!--this is true but I can't find it documented online!--usually due to a pane or other small hole in the dwelling Wind blew in water. Electricity was out. Resultant mildew in the heat resulted in total destruction of an outwardly appearing solid structure.---- true but no documentation available online--> The following storms did not affect Brevard County with hurricane-force winds: [[Hurricane Floyd|Floyd]] (September 15, 1999),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/floydsum.html |title=Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Summary 09/14/99 thru 09/15/99 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000819120528/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/floydsum.html |archive-date=August 19, 2000 |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> and [[Hurricane Irene (1999)|Irene]] (October 16, 1999).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/irenesum.html |title=Hurricane Irene Preliminary Summary 10-16-99 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000819120456/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/irenesum.html |archive-date=August 19, 2000 |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> [[Tropical Storm Fay (2008)|Tropical Storm Fay]] dropped a record rainfall of {{convert|27.65|in|cm}} in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081002/NEWS01/810020328/1006/news01&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL |title=Fay broke records of most rainfall in Brevard |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> The winter of 2009–2010 was the coldest on record since 1937, when such records were first kept.<!---quite frustrating since no figures were given except to say that March was 6 degrees below average. They did not post the article online---><ref>{{Cite news |first=J.D. |last=Gallop |title=Finally! Spring rolls in today |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=March 20, 2010 }}</ref> Planting season, which normally starts around February 14, came six weeks later instead.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Nurseries look for business warm-up |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100324/BUSINESS/3240322/1006/NEWS01/Brevard+nurseries+look+for+business+warm-up |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=6C |date=March 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009120506/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100324/BUSINESS/3240322/1006/NEWS01/Brevard+nurseries+look+for+business+warm-up |archive-date=October 9, 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Some flowers and herbs are planted as early as January.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Sally |last=Scalera |title=Chilly weather ideal for gardeners |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110108/LIFE/101080302/Sally-Scalera-Brevard-County-s-chilly-weather-ideal-for-gardeners |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=4D |date=January 8, 2011 }}</ref> December 2010 was the coldest December on record.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |title=warm weather fun is over for Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=2B |date=January 12, 2011 }}</ref><!---no soft copy. They instead rewrote article which is strange and maybe reduces the truth of this statement---> In federal maps printed before 2012, nearly half of Brevard was classified as prone to flooding. Most of this was in the relatively undeveloped low-lying areas, west of Interstate 95, on the banks of the [[St. Johns River]]. About 18,900 homes out of 164,000 single-family homes were in that area.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Flood zones ebb and flow |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A–3A |date=February 11, 2012 }}</ref> ==== Environment ==== {{Main|Environmental issues in Brevard County}} [[File:Eel scrub.jpg|thumb|Pine flatwoods and sand pine scrub]] Brevard County works together with the federal and state government to control pollution and preserve wetlands and coastal areas through lands dedicated to conservation and wildlife protection. There are {{convert|250|mi2}} of federally protected [[wildlife refuge]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Myatt |last=Murphy |date=August 2011 |title=A Shore Thing |journal=Sky (Delta) |page=90 }}</ref> These lands include [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]], the [[Canaveral National Seashore]], the [[St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge]], the [[Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge]], several conservation areas managed by the [[St. Johns River Water Management District]], Brevard County's Environmentally Endangered Lands Program Sanctuaries,<ref name="About the EEL Program">{{cite web |url=http://www.eelbrevard.com/ |title=EEL Program Home |website=www.eelbrevard.com |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> and lands dedicated by the State as conservation areas. === Adjacent counties === * [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia County]] – north * [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River County]] – south * [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]] – southwest * [[Orange County, Florida|Orange County]] – west === Fauna === There are 4,000 species of animals locally.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Myatt |last=Murphy |date=August 2011 |title=A Shore Thing |journal=Sky (Delta) |page=92 }}</ref> Common mammals include [[North American river otter]]s, [[bobcat]]s, [[white-tailed deer]], [[raccoon]]s, [[marsh rabbit]]s,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbbd.com/photos/Animals1/index.html |title=Animals of North Brevard – Part 1 – Titusville, Florida |publisher=Nbbd.com |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> and [[opossum]].<ref name="ft120117">{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Florida's wildlife gets its own 'terms of venery' |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120117/NEWS01/301170003/Keith-Winsten-Florida-s-wildlife-gets-turn-terms-venery |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7B |date=January 17, 2012 }}</ref> [[Razorback|Feral pigs]], introduced by Europeans, present an occasional traffic hazard. [[Lovebug]] season occurs twice annually in May and August–September. Motorists, usually, encounter swarms of these while driving during a four-week period.<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/3493110 Biology of the "Love-Bug", Plecias] Nearctica (Diptera: Bibionidae) accessed September 21, 2007</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Lovebugs like it (your car) hot |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=May 3, 2009 }}</ref> [[Deer flies]] are particularly noticeable from April through June.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Conditions feed yellow fly furor |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100603/NEWS01/6030315/Conditions-feed-yellow-fly-furor |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=June 3, 2010 }}</ref> There were 1,677 [[manatee]]s in Brevard County in 2015, out of a total of 6,063 in the state. This is an increase from 2014 when there was a total of 612 in Brevard County.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Brevard County leads way in record Florida manatee count |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-manatee-count-florida-20150316-story.html |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |date=March 17, 2015 }}</ref> Manatees are experiencing numerous threats within Brevard, where 312 have died in the first half of 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chesnes |first1=Max |title=2021 is already the deadliest year on record for Florida manatees. Why are they dying? |url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/2021/07/09/more-manatees-died-2021-deadliest-year-florida-history-seagrass-marine-mammal-pollution-algal-ocean/7625039002/ |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=Treasure Coast}}</ref> [[Bottlenose dolphin]] are commonly seen in the Intracoastal Waterway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/tm219/462_BODO_IRLES.pdf |title=Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Indian River Lagoon Estuarine System Stock |website=noaa.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> The venomous [[brown recluse spider]] is not native to the area but has found the environment congenial.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcmsonline.org/pdf/may/SummerPerils.pdf |title=Beware the perils of summer |first=Susan |last=Jenks |date=May 16, 2006 |work=Florida Today |publisher=Florida Today |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727073753/http://www.mcmsonline.org/pdf/may/SummerPerils.pdf |archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> The Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network has counted species of butterflies monthly for a year since 2007. In 2010, it counted 45 species.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winston |title=Brevard Naturally:Citizen scientists collect vital information |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=4D |date=December 25, 2010 }}</ref> Included are [[Protographium marcellus|zebra swallowtail butterflies]].<ref name="ft120313">{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Outing offers peek at how humans, nature can coexist |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7B |date=March 13, 2012 }}</ref> Fish and reptiles include [[alligator]]s, [[Lutjanus campechanus|red snapper]], [[sea turtle]]s,<ref name="ft120117" /> [[Florida Scrub Lizard|scrub lizards]],<ref name="ft120313" /> and [[rat snake]]s.<ref name="ft140123" /> There are an estimated 3,500 [[gopher tortoises]] in the county. They are on the endangered list.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Chris |last=Fish |title=Group aims to rescue reptiles buried alive by construction projects |url=http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=115405 |newspaper=Hometown News (the Beaches) |location=Fort Pierce, Florida |pages=A8 |date=April 4, 2014 |access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref> [[North Atlantic right whale]]s give birth near the coast of Brevard, among other places, from November 15 to April 15. They are rare, a [[protected species]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Right whale, calf swim along Brevard shore |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20140311/NEWS01/303110025/Florida-Frontiers-Mosquito-Beaters-swarm-reunion |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=10A |date=March 11, 2014 |access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref> ==== Avian ==== Local bird counts indicate that there are at least 163 species of birds in the county.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title='Bird nerds' eager to scour area for figures |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=January 1, 2011 }}</ref> [[Turkey vulture]]s, a migrating species, are protected by federal law. They migrate north in the summer and return in September.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090923/NEWS01/909230326/1086/Vultures+migrate+back+to+Brevard |title=Florida Today |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> The county's most common winter bird is the [[lesser scaup]], a diving duck. In 2008, half a million were counted. In 2010, 15,000 were estimated.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Brevard Naturally column:Cold weather brings real snowbirds around |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100220/LIFE/2200303/Brevard-Naturally--Cold-weather-brings-real-snowbirds-around |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=4D |date=February 20, 2010 |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> Other birds include the [[red-shouldered hawk]],<ref>{{Cite news |first=Britt |last=Kinnerly |title=Feisty hawks keeping their human neighbors indoors |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110330/NEWS01/103300344/Feisty-hawks-keeping-their-human-neighbors-indoors-Melbourne |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=March 30, 2011 }}</ref> the [[loggerhead shrike]],<ref>{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Keeping tabs on shrikes around Brevard County |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110920/NEWS01/109200301/Keith-Winsten-Keeping-tabs-shrikes-around-Brevard-County |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=9B |date=September 20, 2011 }}</ref> the endangered [[red-cockaded woodpecker]],<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Stealth species thrill watchers |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120125/NEWS01/301250012/Stealth-species-thrill-watchers |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=January 25, 2012 }}</ref> [[Cooper's hawk]]s, [[pileated woodpecker]]s, [[Savannah sparrow]]s,<ref name="ft120313" /> [[Rallidae|rails]] (which also includes [[coot]]s), [[Florida scrub jay]]s (an endangered species), [[wood stork]]s, [[grackle]]s,<ref name="ft120117" /> [[great horned owl]]s,<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Rare owl a hoot for Nats fans |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120312/NEWS01/303060048/Rare-owl-hoot-Nats-fans |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=March 12, 2012 }}</ref> [[northern mockingbird]]s, [[brown thrasher]]s, [[catbird]]s,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Brevard Naturally: Is that bird mocking you? |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120410/COLUMNISTS04/304100024/Brevard-Naturally-bird-mocking-you- |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |date=April 10, 2012 }}</ref> [[green-winged teal]]s, [[greater yellowlegs]], [[western sandpiper]]s, [[least sandpiper]]s, [[dowitcher]]s, and [[American white pelican]]s.<ref name="ft140123">{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Habitats need flux to survive |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014301210016 |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7B |date=January 21, 2014 |access-date=January 30, 2014}}</ref> Peak migration in the fall is from the last week in September through the first week in October. Fall migration tends to be stronger than spring because birds typically take different flyways.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Fortune brings birding diversity |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7B |date=November 1, 2011 }}</ref> === Flora === Native trees include [[Sabal palmetto|cabbage palm]] (the state tree of Florida), [[fringetree]], [[coral bean]], [[Vachellia farnesiana|sweet acacia]], [[geiger tree]],<ref>[http://www.netpamj.com/10bloomingtrees.htm Sally Scalera, Florida Extension Agent] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714165646/http://www.netpamj.com/10bloomingtrees.htm |date=July 14, 2011 }}</ref> [[Hamelia patens|firebush]], [[beautyberry]], [[coral honeysuckle]], and [[blanket flower]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.netpamj.com/09addnatives.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714170414/http://www.netpamj.com/09addnatives.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |title=Central Florida Flowers |publisher=Netpamj.com |date=August 15, 2009 |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> Other native plants include [[Coccoloba uvifera|sea grape]], [[red mulberry]], [[Portulaca oleracea|purslane]], [[dandelion]], [[Yucca gloriosa|Spanish bayonet]], [[blackberry]], [[Jerusalem artichoke]], [[dogwood]], and [[Ilex glabra|gallberry]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbbd.com/godo/ef/edibles/index.html |title=Edible Plants of Central Florida – Titusville, Florida |publisher=Nbbd.com |access-date=December 18, 2012}} In coastal areas, especially Central and South County, there exists tropical microclimates. Coconut Palms and Royal Palms and other tropical plants grow to fruiting maturity although they may be injured or killed in one of the infrequent cold waves during the winter.</ref> On the east coast of the state, [[mangroves]] have normally dominated the coast from [[Cocoa Beach, Florida|Cocoa Beach]] southward. Northward these may compete with [[salt marsh]]es moving in from the north, depending on the annual weather conditions.<ref name="ft140107">{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title='Snow' bird species in South |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20140107/NEWS01/301070029/Keith-Winsten-Snow-bird-species-show-up-far-south |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7B |date=January 7, 2014 |access-date=January 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109080920/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20140107/NEWS01/301070029/Keith-Winsten-Snow-bird-species-show-up-far-south |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Live oak]] trees, various grasses, and [[juniper]] plants were sufficiently common to generate [[pollen]] noticeable by some people in February 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Pollen season forecast to be a potent one |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110226/NEWS01/102260317/Pollen-season-forecast-potent-one-Brevard |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=February 1, 2011 }}</ref> == Demographics == {{US Census population | 1860= 246 | 1870= 1216 | 1880= 1478 | 1890= 3401 | 1900= 5158 | 1910= 4717 | 1920= 8505 | 1930= 13283 | 1940= 16142 | 1950= 23653 | 1960= 111435 | 1970= 230006 | 1980= 272959 | 1990= 398978 | 2000= 476320 | 2010= 543376 | align-fn=center | footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |title=Historical Census Browser |publisher=University of Virginia Library |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/fl190090.txt |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2015<ref name="QF" /> 2018<ref name="2018pop">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/brevardcountyflorida/PST045218 |title=QuickFacts. Brevard County, Florida. |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 6, 2019}}</ref> |2020=606612}} The 2019 US Census estimates Brevard's population at 601,942 residents with a median household income of $56,775.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Brevard County, Florida|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/brevardcountyflorida|access-date=2021-03-25|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref> According to the 2000 census, the county had about 80,000 veterans. 21% of the population older than 18 is a veteran.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090306/NEWS01/903060329/1006/rss01 |title=JROTC continues to swell |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> This had dropped to 74,000 in 2010. This was 21% of the people in the county.<ref>{{Cite news |first=R. Norman |last=Moody |title=Service a way of life for one Navy family |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101111/NEWS01/11110314/Service-a-way-of-life-for-one-Navy-family |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=November 11, 2010 }}</ref> An actual count by a local agency in 2010 indicated that 225 of veterans were homeless.<ref>{{Cite news |first=R. Norman |last=Moody |title=Steppingstone for vets |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100215/NEWS01/2150309/1086/Melbourne+housing+facility+puts+homeless+on+path+to+independence |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=February 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035039/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100215/NEWS01/2150309/1086/Melbourne+housing+facility+puts+homeless+on+path+to+independence |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><!---information with actual figure in it is in "box" available only in print edition---><!---an editorial in Florida Today February 25 March 2011 guessed 700!---> In 2007, a local census by volunteers counted 1,899 homeless residents.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Grant money clears way for homeless count |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100111/NEWS01/1110309/1006/rss01 |work=Florida Today |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=8A |date=January 11, 2010 }}</ref> In the 1950s, the county population was just under 24,000. In 1960, it was just over 111,000. In 1969, at the height of the space program, it was 234,000.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Basu |title=Cocoa's class of 1950 shares life stories at reunion |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100314/LIFE/3140303/Cocoa-s-class-of-1950-shares-life-stories-at-reunion |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1D |date=March 14, 2010 }}</ref> In 2015, interracial marriage constituted 29% of all marriages, the fourth highest in the nation, which averaged 17%.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Lisa |last=Broadt |title=Local interracial marriage rates among highest in U.S. |url=http://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/shaping-our-future/2017/10/05/local-interracial-marriage-rates-among-highest-u-s-could-impact-culture-politics/520774001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=October 8, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2017}}</ref> === Census === U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Ethnic/Race Demographics:<ref name="BVdemo">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |title=Brevard County: SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=October 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name="bvDC">{{cite web |url=http://data.ocala.com/census/florida/brevard-county/009/ |title=Brevard County Demographic Characteristics |publisher=ocala.com |access-date=October 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026151324/http://data.ocala.com/census/florida/brevard-county/009/ |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> * [[White (U.S. Census)|White (non-Hispanic)]] : 77.6% <small>17.3% English, 15.7% Irish, 12.8% German, 8.7% Italian, 4.0% French, 3.6% Polish, 2.5% Scottish, 2.2% Scotch-Irish, 1.9% Dutch, 1.2% Swedish, 1.0% French Canadian, 0.9% Norwegian, 0.8% Russian, 0.7% Hungarian, 0.7% Welsh, 0.5% Greek.</small><ref name="BVdemo" /> * [[White Hispanic]] : 5.4% with at least 0.5% Portuguese. * [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black (non-Hispanic)]] (10.1% when including [[Black Hispanic]]s): 9.7% <small>(2.2% [[West Indian]]/[[Afro-Caribbean American]] [1.0% Jamaican, 0.6% Haitian, 0.1% Trinidadian and Tobagonian, 0.1% [[Afro-Caribbean|Other or Unspecified West Indian]], 0.1% [[British West Indian]], 0.1% Bahamian,] 0.6% [[Sub-Saharan Africa|Subsaharan African]])</small><ref name="BVdemo" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |title=Brevard County, Florida FIRST ANCESTRY REPORTED Universe: Total population – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=November 12, 2015}}</ref> * [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race: 8.1% <small>(3.2% Puerto Rican, 1.3% Mexican, 0.9% Cuban)</small><ref name="BVdemo" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |title=Hispanic or Latino by Type: 2010 -- 2010 Census Summary File 1 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=October 24, 2015}}</ref> * [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]: 2.1% <small>(0.5% Indian, 0.5% Filipino, 0.3% Chinese, 0.3% Other Asian, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.1% Korean, 0.1% Japanese)</small><ref name="BVdemo" /><ref name="bvDC" /> * [[Multiracial American|Two or more races]]: 2.6% * [[Native American (U.S. Census)|American Indian and Alaska Native]]: 0.4% * [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander]]: 0.1%<ref name="BVdemo" /><ref name="bvDC" /> * [[Race (United States Census)|Other Races]]: 1.7% <small>(0.5% Arab)</small><ref name="BVdemo" /> In 2010, 8.3% of the population considered themselves to be of only "[[American people|American]]" ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity.) There were 229,692 households, out of which 23.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.28% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.40% were non-families. 28.44% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.53% (4.00% male and 8.53% female) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.84.<ref name="bvDC">{{cite web |url=http://data.ocala.com/census/florida/brevard-county/009/ |title=Brevard County Demographic Characteristics |publisher=ocala.com |access-date=October 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026151324/http://data.ocala.com/census/florida/brevard-county/009/ |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="BREVage">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |title=Brevard County: Age Groups and Sex: 2010 – 2010 Census Summary File 1 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=October 24, 2015}}</ref> The population was distributed by age with 19.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.<ref name="BREVage" /> In 2010, the oldest person in the county was a 110-year-old Titusville man.<!---Albert Plummer---><ref>{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=At 106, woman enjoying life |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101023/NEWS01/10230317/1006/rss01 |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=October 23, 2010 }}</ref> The median income for a household in the county was $49,523, and the median income for a family was $60,842. Males had a median income of $48,191 versus $33,276 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $27,606. About 7.2% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those aged 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |title=Brevard County, Florida: SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=November 18, 2015}}</ref> In 2010, 8.6% of the county's population was [[foreign born]], with 59.4% being [[Naturalized citizen of the United States|naturalized American citizens]]. Of foreign-born residents, 49.1% were born in [[Latin America]], 22.9% were born in [[Europe]], 18.3% born in [[Asia]], 6.4% in [[North America]], 2.4% born in [[Africa]], and 0.9% were born in [[Oceania]].<ref name="BVdemo">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |title=Brevard County: SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=October 23, 2015}}</ref> In 2010, 90% of residents had a high school degree, compared with 85% statewide.<ref name="ft101215">{{Cite news |first=MacKenzie |last=Ryan |title=Census data notes makeup of towns |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101215/NEWS01/12150324/Census-data-notes-makeup-of-towns |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=December 15, 2010 }}</ref> In 2009, 25.7% of residents had an undergraduate degree, below the national average of 27.7%,<ref name="ranking" /> but the same as the rest of Florida.<ref name="ft101215" /> 14.7% of residents over 25 had undergraduate degrees in engineering. This is almost twice the national average.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100929/NEWS01/9290347/Brevardians-hit-the-engineering-books |title=Brevardians hit the engineering books |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> From 2007 through 2010, the population was essentially static.<ref name="McCarthy 7C">{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Builders see lower costs |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110114/BUSINESS/101140315/Home-starts-rise-but-not-by-much |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7C |date=January 14, 2011 }}</ref> In 2012, the [[Urban Institute]] ranked the Brevard metro fourth in the country for racial equality. Criteria were integration of neighborhoods, income, and the quality of schools minorities attend. The area was ranked first for Hispanic equality with whites.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Suzanne |last=Cervenka |title=Space Coast racial equality rates fourth |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120203/NEWS01/302030024/Space-Coast-racial-equality-rates-among-best-U-S- |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=February 3, 2012 }}</ref> === Languages === As of 2010, 90.20% of all residents spoke [[English language|English]] as their [[first language]], while 5.29% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 0.62% [[German language|German]], 0.61% [[French language|French]], and 0.47% [[French-based creole languages|French Creole]] (mostly [[Haitian Creole]]) as their [[mother language]].<ref name="MLA">{{cite web |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&SRVY_YEAR=2010&geo=county&state_id=12&county_id=95&mode=geographic&lang_id=&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&region_id=&division_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r&pc=1 |title=Modern Language Association Data Center Results of Brevard County, Florida |publisher=[[Modern Language Association]] | access-date=October 24, 2015}}</ref> In total, 9.80% of the population spoke languages other than English as their [[primary language]].<ref name="MLA" /> === Religion === In 2010, Evangelical Protestants numbered 79,893; mainline Protestants 30,877; Catholics 64,831; Unaffiliated 353,946.<ref>{{Cite news |first=J.D. |last=Gallop |title=Old-time faith gets a new look |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20121222/NEWS01/312220016/Old-time-faith-gets-new-look |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=December 22, 2012 }}</ref> In 2000, the following were counted by denomination:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/counties/12009_2000.asp |title=The Association of Religion Data Archives &#124; Maps & Reports |publisher=Thearda.com |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> * Protestants 95,202 ** Evangelical Protestant 59,301 ** Mainline Protestant 35,901 * Catholics 79,847 * Orthodox Christians 2,804 * Other 8,663 * Unclaimed 289,714 == Metropolitan Statistical Area == The [[United States Office of Management and Budget]] has designated Brevard County as the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.<ref name="OMB_13-01">{{cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf |title=OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas | date=February 28, 2013 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[Office of Management and Budget]] |access-date=March 20, 2013 }}</ref> The [[United States Census Bureau]] ranked the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area as the [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|98th most populous]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area|metropolitan statistical area]] and the [[List of United States primary statistical areas|96th most populous]] [[United States primary statistical area|primary statistical area]] of the United States as of July 1, 2012.<ref name="PopEstCBSA">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-01.csv |title=Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 |format=[[comma-separated values|CSV]] | work=2012 Population Estimates |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division |date=March 2013 |access-date=March 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401093220/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-01.csv |archive-date=April 1, 2013}}</ref><ref name="PopEstCSA">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-02.csv |title=Table 2. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 |format=[[comma-separated values|CSV]] | work=2012 Population Estimates |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division |date=March 2013 |access-date=March 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517083619/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-02.csv |archive-date=May 17, 2013}}</ref> == Government == <!---the goal is to shorten this by at least one display page. Please shorten. Ensure that what you are trying to add is already in Government of Brevard County--> {{Main|Government of Brevard County}} Brevard county commissioners are elected by the public to establish ordinances and policies for the county. The Commission appoints a [[County manager (United States)|County Manager]], who executes the will of the commission. The county employed about 2,900 workers in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=news01 |title=Community support makes difference at Jupiter Elementary |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> There are 16 autonomous municipal governments within the county. The various cities, towns and villages of Brevard have varying reliance on services provided by the Brevard County government. About 100,000 households are located outside organized municipalities, and their occupants are directly served by the county government.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=Waste Mgmt. rolls out new trash program |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130929/NEWS01/309290043/Waste-Management-rolls-out-new-trash-program |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=September 29, 2013 |access-date=September 29, 2013}}</ref> A centrally located County Government Center in [[Viera, Florida|Viera]] was established to provide more accessible services to residents in the southern part of the county. It houses the various county government branches, including Housing and Human Services, Juvenile Justice, Public Safety, Public Works and Solid Waste Management. The [[Government of Brevard County|Brevard County government]] had annual expenditures just over $1&nbsp;billion in the fiscal year 2009–2010, exclusive of the municipalities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardcounty.us/budgetoffice/budget/2009_2010/pdf/summary%20by%20category.pdf |title=Budget FY 2009–2010 $1,093,543,028 |date=March 1, 2010 |work=TY 2010 Adopted Budget |publisher=Brevardcounty.us }}</ref> <!---however separate article claims $217&nbsp;million. do not understand why. The latter is more proportional to taxes. the one here must include garbage, grants, etc.--> In 2009, real estate taxes for [[Homestead exemption|homesteaded property]] averaged 0.83% of the value of the property.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/proptaxcounty__bypercentofhomevalue-2005-2008-20090924.pdf |title=Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County* Ranked by Taxes as Percentage of Home Value 2008 |date=March 16, 2010 |publisher=taxfoundation.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322014042/http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/proptaxcounty__bypercentofhomevalue-2005-2008-20090924.pdf |archive-date=March 22, 2012}}</ref> Real estate taxes are levied by each authority. They are collected by the County Tax Collector.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Budget questions and answers |newspaper=[[Florida Today]]; Inside Brevard County Government |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=23 |date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> The total taxable real estate base was $33.7&nbsp;billion in 2009.<ref name="countbud">{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardcounty.us/budgetoffice/budget/2009_2010/pdf/general%20information.pdf |title=Brevard County School Budget 2009:General information |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918133608/http://brevardcounty.us/budgetoffice/budget/2009_2010/pdf/general%20information.pdf |archive-date=September 18, 2010 |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> County taxes rose 26.5% in total per capita revenue from 2002 to 2007, and 49.8% in property tax per capita in the same time frame.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Joslin, J. |title=Revenue, population both grow |publisher=Florida Today |date=April 22, 2007}}</ref> Delinquent taxes were $36&nbsp;million in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Tardy taxes rech record level |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=A1 |date=May 14, 2009 }}</ref> In 2012 bonds issued by the county were given a rating of [[Fitch Group#Long-term credit ratings|AA]] by the [[Fitch Group]] and improved ratings by [[Moody's Investors Service|Moody's]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Wayne |last=Price |title=County earns high marks for credit |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20121110/BUSINESS/311100016/Brevard-County-earns-high-marks-credit |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=November 10, 2012 }}</ref> Brevard County has two unique election districts. One governs [[Port Canaveral]]; the other, the maintenance of the [[Sebastian Inlet]]. === Elected officials === County Commissioners: * District 1 – Rita Pritchett, Chair<ref name="brevardfl.gov">{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardfl.gov/CountyCommission/CountyCommissionersHome/ |title=County Commissioners Home |website=www.brevardfl.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> * District 2 – Bryan Lober<ref name="brevardfl.gov" /> * District 3 – John Tobia<ref name="brevardfl.gov" /> * District 4 – Curt Smith<ref name="brevardfl.gov" /> * District 5 – Kristine Zonka, Vice Chair<ref name="brevardfl.gov" /> Commissioners were paid $58,145 annually in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.votebrevard.gov/Voter-Information/Contact-Your-Elected-Officials/County-Government-Officials |title=County Government Officials |publisher=Votebrevard.com |access-date=July 5, 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815010949/https://www.votebrevard.gov/Voter-Information/Contact-Your-Elected-Officials/County-Government-Officials |archive-date=August 15, 2020 }}</ref> The following are elected school board officials: * District 1 - Misty Belford <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=County Government Officials|url=https://www.votebrevard.gov/Voter-Information/Contact-Your-Elected-Officials/County-Government-Officials#schbd1|access-date=2021-02-23|website=www.votebrevard.gov}}</ref> * District 2 - Cheryll McDougall <ref name=":0" /> * District 3 - Jennifer Jenkins<ref name=":0" /> * District 4 - Matt Susin <ref name=":0" /> * District 5 - Katye Campbell <ref name=":0" /> The following are considered state officials but are elected and paid by the county: * Sheriff – [[Wayne Ivey]] * Clerk of the Courts – Rachel M. Sadoff. The clerk's office had 323 workers, including subcontractors, as of 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Commissioners leery of clerk's outsourcing |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=March 9, 2011 }}</ref> * Brevard [[Tax assessment|Property Appraiser]] – Dana Blickley * Tax Collector – Lisa Cullen<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardtaxcollector.com/ |title=Brevard Tax Collector's Office |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> * Supervisor of Elections – Lori Scott<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.votebrevard.com/ |title=Brevard County Elections Page |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> * State Attorney – Phil Archer * Public Defender – Blaise Trettis Since redistricting following the [[2010 U.S. Census]], Brevard County has been part of [[Florida's 8th congressional district]]. It is represented by Republican [[Bill Posey]]. The county lies within two [[Florida State Senate|state senatorial]] districts: * the 14th (covering the northern part of the county, held by Republican [[Tom A. Wright]]) * the 17th (covering the southern part of the county, held by Republican [[Debbie Mayfield]]) The county lies within four [[Florida House of Representatives|state representative]] districts: * the 50th (covering the northwestern part of the county, held by Republican [[Rene Plasencia]]) * the 51st (covering the northeastern part of the county, held by Republican [[Tyler Sirois]]) * the 52nd (covering the central part of the county, held by Republican [[Thad Altman]]) * the 53rd (covering the southern part of the county, held by Republican [[Randy Fine]]) :''See [[List of members of the Florida House of Representatives from Brevard County, Florida]]'' Prior to the creation of districts in 1967, state representatives were elected by county. This geographic representation resulted in a longstanding domination of the state legislature by rural interests, as it did not recognize changing patterns of settlement and business in the state. === Justice system === {{Main|County court (Florida)|Florida circuit courts}} ==== Courts ==== [[File:Brev justicecenter.jpg|thumb|Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Justice Center in Viera]] The county has centralized most [[county court (Florida)|county]] and circuit courts in Viera which try a variety of cases including felonies, misdemeanors, traffic, and domestic. The courthouse in Titusville provides the venue for circuit and county cases arising in the north part of the county while the courthouse in Melbourne is the venue for county cases arising in the southern portion of the county. An elected [[State Attorney]] prosecutes criminal cases for the State of Florida. Indigent defendants can be represented by the office of the elected [[Public Defender]]. The [[Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida|18th Circuit Court]] includes [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole County]] as well as Brevard and includes not only the court itself but the State Attorney and the Public Defender.<ref>[http://sa18.state.fl.us/ State Attorney's Office 18th Circuit Court] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407174913/http://sa18.state.fl.us/nwbio.htm |date=April 7, 2012 }} accessed January 19, 2008</ref> In 2008, the public defender had a staff of 45 lawyers in Brevard who handled about 24,000 cases annually.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Keyonna |last=Summers |title=Russo running for office yet again |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=January 5, 2008 }}</ref> The County elects a [[Sheriff#Florida|sheriff]], directly responsible to the courts but also to the state for the enforcement of state laws. Police chiefs, appointed by their cities or towns, perform the same function locally. There is no overlap in jurisdictions. Some volunteers work alongside paid professionals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tarleton.edu/~english/tw/acrobat/3103/allen_report.PDF |title=404 Error – Tarleton State University |website=www.tarleton.edu |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref><!---Can't find a good online reference and don't know how important this is anyway.--Besides an auxiliary force who have no enforcement powers, both the Sheriff and Palm Bay have a reserve status for former officers who wish to work part time.---> Most municipalities are located on at least one waterway. This has resulted in the county and seven cities having a boat or access to one to aid boaters, or to enforce the law in the water in their jurisdiction.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John A. |last=Torres |title=Keeping waterways safe |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100530/NEWS01/5300328/Boat-patrols-help-keep-waterways-safe |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,9A |date=May 2010 }}</ref><!---hard copy only has box scores from which these figures are taken. The soft copy contains only the companion article, not the "box" scores---> The county jail is a 1976 facility which rapidly became overcrowded. Voters rejected expanding the jail on four occasions.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Transforming the jail |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110428/OPINION/110427018/Our-views-Transforming-jail-April-28- |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=10A |date=April 28, 2011 }}</ref> The sheriff solved the problem by the construction of a large but less expensive "hardened tent" to house non-violent offenders. Crowding reached its peak in 2007 at 1,988 inmates, 300 over capacity. The budget for the facility was $42&nbsp;million in 2010. There were 1,585 residents. Costs for feeding and housing was $72 per inmate daily. There were 475 staff members.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jeff |last=Schweers |title=Inmate crowding under control |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110220/NEWS01/102200336/Brevard-County-jail-gets-inmate-crowding-under-control |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=February 20, 2011 }}</ref> The county jail retains inmates awaiting trial or those who have been sentenced to a year <!---We need an all-Florida county description. This isn't unique to Brevard.----> or less. Longer sentences must be served in state prisons, such as the facility in [[Sharpes, Florida|Sharpes]] for young men. A unit of the [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]], homeported at Port Canaveral, plays a role in preventing [[illegal immigration]] and is an interdictor of drugs in the area. The States Attorney's Office sponsors the Victim/Witness Services.<ref>[http://sa18.state.fl.us/vicsvcs/vicwit.htm Victim/Witness Services] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026194733/http://sa18.state.fl.us/vicsvcs/vicwit.htm |date=October 26, 2011 }}</ref> This provides advocates to alleged victims of violent crime and their families. The advocate helps the family understand the legal system as they navigate through it. They also seek out financial assistance <!---Again, lack of FlToday database prevents me from citing a ref for the number helped ---> or counseling they might need. In 2005 they helped 8,448 alleged victims in Brevard County. === Public services === ==== Public safety ==== [[File:Brevard County Sheriff's boat next to Carnival Victory cruise ship in Port Canaveral, Florida.jpg|upright|thumb|Brevard County Sheriff's boat next to ''[[Carnival Victory]]'' at [[Port Canaveral]]]] <!---overlap or not of policing mentioned above. Maybe needs merging---> Public safety for unincorporated areas of the county is the responsibility of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. All but three of the 17 incorporated municipalities, [[Malabar, Florida|Malabar]], [[Cape Canaveral, Florida|Cape Canaveral]] and [[Palm Shores, Florida|Palm Shores]], maintain their own law enforcement services. Those three contract that service to the Sheriff's Office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Florida/palmshores_fl/townofpalmshoresfloridacodeofordinances?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:palmshores_fl |title=American Legal Publishing – Online Library |publisher=Amlegal.com |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> [[File:Cocoa Police 1.jpg|thumb|left|150px|An officer from the [[Cocoa Police Department (Florida)|Cocoa Police Department]] poses with a child next to a patrol car emblazoned with "[[Autism|Autism Awareness]]" livery, during a community event in [[Cocoa, Florida|Cocoa Village]]]] In 2009, there were 1,200 law enforcement officers working in the county, of which 361 are sheriff's deputies.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Police chase grants, but there's a catch |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=April 3, 2009 }}</ref> The number of Sheriff's deputies had risen to 843 in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Mel |last=Torres |title=Help Wanted:Sheriff's Deputy |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/08/03/torres-sheriff-like-nation-working-fill-vacancies/31076071/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=August 4, 2015 |access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> Of all crime that came to the attention of the sheriff's office in 2007, 80% was [[drug]]-related.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Klyne |last=Nowlin |title=Sheriff Faces Tough Challenges |publisher=Intercom (Military Officers Association of America) |location=Patrick AFB, Florida |page=11 |date=April 2008 }}</ref><!---Sheriff Jack Parker in a speech to MOAACC--> From January to June 2009, the county reported a total of 10,037 crimes. Of these, a majority, 3,002, were under the jurisdiction of the sheriff's department.<ref name="ft101015">{{Cite news |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |title=Crime rate decreases 5.5% |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101016/NEWS01/10160312/1006/Crime+rate+decreases+5.5+percent |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=October 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712134439/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101016/NEWS01/10160312/1006/Crime+rate+decreases+5.5+percent |archive-date=July 12, 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2009, the crime rate was 3,471.3 property-related crimes per 100,000 residents, slightly above the national average.<ref name="ranking" /> Public safety for Port Canaveral is under the direction of the Port Authority. Traditionally, emphasis was placed on monitoring the content of [[containerized cargo]] on incoming ships, as well as underwater inspection of arriving ships that could be carrying explosive devices. In 2008, the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners approved the creation of an independent police department.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portcanaveral.com/general/news/releases/04232009.php |title=Port Canaveral |publisher=Port Canaveral |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118081757/http://portcanaveral.com/general/news/releases/04232009.php |archive-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portcanaveral.com/general/police.php |title=Port Canaveral |publisher=Port Canaveral |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227045740/http://portcanaveral.com/general/police.php |archive-date=December 27, 2012}}</ref> <!---Florida Today had a nice article on disarming bombs found towards Sebastian where various training crews dropped live bombs during WWII, some of which failed to go off. The US Army 766th Ordnance Company ([[Bomb disposal|Explosive Ordnance Disposal]]) disarms and safely explodes bombs when they are located.---> In 2017, the [[Florida Highway Patrol]] had about 32 troopers working different shifts on the [[I-95]] interstate, and the unincorporated parts of the county. Normally there were five or six officers per shift.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Tess |last=Sheets |title=Highways cram as Floridians seek refuge from Irma |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/07/highways-cram-floridians-seek-refuge-irma/641422001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, 6A |date=September 8, 2017 |access-date=September 16, 2017}}</ref> The county runs a fire-rescue service. In the year 2015–2016, they responded to 11,383 trauma calls.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Chris |last=Bonanno |title=Cost, pride reasons for ambulance refusal |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2016/09/21/why-do-some-injuries-refuse-medical-help/89945492/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=October 3, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016}}</ref> In 2017, the fatality rate for pedestrians was the second worst for metropolitan areas in the nation.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Pedestrians and cyclists at risk on Cocoa Beach road |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/19/state-road-1-cocoa-beach-dangerous-bicyclists-pedestrians/964433001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, 11A |date=December 20, 2017 |access-date=January 9, 2018}}</ref> In 2017, the most dangerous road for bicycles and pedestrians was on State Road A1A from Cocoa Beach to Cape Canaveral.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Will Cocoa Beach vote to raise building height limit? |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2018/02/22/cocoa-beachbuilding-height-limit/328897002/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=9A |date=February 26, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref> ==== Utilities ==== Three cities provide potable water and sewage for their cities and surrounding areas: Cocoa, Melbourne, and Titusville. The majority of Melbourne water customers are supplied with treated surface water from Lake Washington.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Jim | last=Waymer | title=St. Johns lake health stagnates | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20121113/NEWS01/311130020| newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages= 1A, 3A | date=November 13, 2012 }}</ref> Where available, residents were obligated to hook into the system. In 2012, there were 90,000 septic tanks.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Activists hope Saturday event will put focus on waterway's plight |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130925/NEWS01/309250027/Activists-hope-Hands-Across-Lagoon-puts-focus-waterway-s-plight |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, 3A |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=September 26, 2013}}</ref> Storm and wastewater management fees vary. In 2014, the county charged $36 annually per household. Cities and towns charged from $36 to $77.52 per household annually.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=County to consider stormwater fee hike |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20140324/NEWS01/303240021/County-consider-stormwater-fee-hike |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=March 24, 2014 |access-date=March 28, 2014}}</ref> ==== Public recreation ==== {{Maincat|Parks in Brevard County, Florida}} [[File:na col.jpg|thumb|Boardwalk over wetlands area at Chain of Lakes in Titusville]] There are more than 100 parks and three [[campground]]s in the county that are managed by local government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.brevardfl.gov/ParksRecreation/Home/ |title=Brevard County Parks and Recereation |website=www.brevardfl.gov |access-date=July 23, 2021}}</ref> Many of these are managed by the ''Brevard County Parks and Recreation'', an agency within the Brevard County Government. There are 25 public [[golf course]]s and three private ones. Due to dwindling numbers of golfers, five courses closed from 2004 to 2017. In 2017, three public courses were being considered for closure.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=Brevard to decide future of county golf courses |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/10/24/brevard-decide-future-its-three-county-owned-golf-courses-two-months/793478001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=2A |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref> In 11 sanctuaries that protect natural ecosystems, the county's Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program offers passive recreation opportunities such as [[hiking]], wildlife viewing, [[biking]] and [[paddling]]. In 2013, there was a total of {{convert|24000|acres}}, with {{convert|62|mi}} of trails and {{convert|120|mi}} of [[fire lane]]s. The quantity of fire lanes was considered insufficient.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=No Money to care for the land we saved |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130324/NEWS01/303240036/Brevard-has-no-money-care-land-we-saved |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=[[Melbourne, Florida]] | pages=1A |date=March 24, 2013 }}</ref><!----box with figures does not exist in soft copy, which is provided for credibility purposes only---> The [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/ |title=Home – Merritt Island – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |website=www.fws.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> and the [[Canaveral National Seashore]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/cana |title=Canaveral National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service) |website=www.nps.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> are two national wildlife refuges in the county that offer recreational pursuits such as hiking, wildlife viewing, paddling, and [[environmental education]]. ==== Social services ==== {{Main|Brevard County Social Services}} Brevard County provides a number of services to help the aged, juveniles, the physically and mentally handicapped, and minorities. The Brevard County Housing Authority acquires and leases housing projects, investigates housing conditions, determines where slums and unsafe housing exist and investigates conditions dangerous to the public. It is managed by a board appointed by the county commission.<ref>[http://brfamha.org/about.htm Brevard County Housing Authority] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413060507/http://www.brfamha.org/about.htm |date=2009-04-13 }}</ref> Several organization provide social services for juveniles, such as the Children's Home Society, Children's Advocacy Center of Brevard, and The Vhild Care Association of Brevard County. == Elections == According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a plurality of registered voters in Brevard County. {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="6" | Brevard County voter registration & party enrollment as of February 28, 2022<ref>{{Cite web|title=Voter Registration - By County and Party - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State|url=https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/data-statistics/voter-registration-statistics/voter-registration-reportsxlsx/voter-registration-by-county-and-party/|access-date=2021-04-10|website=dos.myflorida.com}}</ref> |- ! colspan="2" | Political party ! Total voters ! Percentage |- | {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | align = center | 191,197 | align = center | 42.42% |- | {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | align = center | 131,528 | align = center | 29.18% |- | {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}} | Independent | align = center | 117,506 | align = center | 26.07% |- | {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}} | Third Parties | align = center | 10,453 | align = center | 2.32% |- ! colspan="2" | Total ! align="center" | 450,684 ! align="center" | 100% |} {{PresHead|place=Brevard County, Florida|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |first=David |last=Leip |website=uselectionatlas.org |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|2020|Republican|207,883|148,549|5,221|Florida}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|181,848|119,679|16,614|Florida}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|159,300|122,993|4,135|Florida}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|157,589|127,620|3,718|Florida}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|153,068|110,309|2,085|Florida}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|115,253|97,341|5,894|Florida}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|88,022|80,445|26,666|Florida}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|84,585|61,091|50,184|Florida}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|104,854|43,004|1,301|Florida}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|102,477|36,985|49|Florida}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|69,460|39,007|7,169|Florida}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|44,470|46,421|1,473|Florida}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|62,773|16,854|106|Florida}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|37,124|18,281|21,909|Florida}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|24,551|24,833|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|17,585|11,069|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|10,004|3,928|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,756|4,157|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,315|2,348|901|Florida}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,769|2,651|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,984|2,995|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,147|2,300|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|956|1,852|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,830|1,063|53|Florida}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|515|872|118|Florida}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|659|894|124|Florida}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|174|599|145|Florida}} {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|61|357|172|Florida}} {{PresRow|1908|Democratic|225|294|60|Florida}} {{PresRow|1904|Democratic|125|553|33|Florida}} {{PresRow|1900|Democratic|121|513|64|Florida}} {{PresRow|1896|Democratic|337|505|60|Florida}} {{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|0|449|57|Florida}} == Economy == The county Domestic Product was $14.5 billion in 2009<ref>{{Cite news |title=Editorial:A growth industry |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010101222017 |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=8A |date=December 23, 2010 }}</ref> and increased to $24.6 billion in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/REALGDPALL12009 |title=Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Brevard County, FL|author=Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis|date=December 9, 2020|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> In 2010 and 2011, the [[Brookings Institution]] reported that Brevard ranked in the bottom fifth of the nation's top metro areas, based on [[unemployment]], gross metropolitan product, housing prices and [[foreclosure|foreclosed]] properties.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Slow Fla. recovery forecast |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100317/BUSINESS/3170326/Slow-Fla.-recovery-forecast |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=6C |date=March 17, 2010 }}</ref> Foreclosures reached a monthly high of 963 in March 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Sketchy paperwork echoes in Brevard |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101017/NEWS01/10170327/1006/news01/Sketchy+foreclosure+paperwork+echoes+effects+in+Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=October 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502032542/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101017/NEWS01/10170327/1006/news01/Sketchy+foreclosure+paperwork+echoes+effects+in+Brevard |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The county reached an annual high foreclosure in 2009 of 9,772.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Brevard economy still sputters as election nears |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/assets/pdf/A9196717113.PDF |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1D |date=November 4, 2012 }}</ref> In December 2010, ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine rated the area the worst place in America to find a job.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Matt |last=Reed |title=Why you're not as 'underwater' as you think |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111002/COLUMNISTS0207/310020011/Matt-Reed-Why-you-re-not-underwater-you-think |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=16A |date=October 2, 2011 }}</ref> Government purchasing contributed 12–15% of the county's gross domestic product from 2000 to 2010.<ref name="floridatoday.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100926/COLUMNISTS0207/9260332/1086/MATT+REED++5+ways+Brevard+economy+defies+Dems++GOP |title=Matt Reed: 5 ways Brevard economy defies Dems, GOP |access-date=November 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129071321/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100926/COLUMNISTS0207/9260332/1086/MATT+REED++5+ways+Brevard+economy+defies+Dems++GOP |archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref> Though the area has a relatively small number of [[high tech]]nology companies, 736, a business journal ranked it eighth in the country as a high tech center in 2009. The area had 23,096 high-tech jobs with a ratio of 124 per 1,000 total jobs.<ref>{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Florida Tech, KSC are technology assets |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=11A |date=May 15, 2009 }}</ref> In December 2010, ''Forbes'' magazine ranked the area as the worst in the country for finding a job, for the second time in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Britt |last=Kennerly |title=Palm Bay census a letdown |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110102/NEWS01/101020324/Palm-Bay-census-a-letdown |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=January 2, 2011 }}</ref> During 2020, overlapping the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]], the metropolitan area was the second best-performing out of 200 in the country.<ref>{{Cite news | first=David | last=Berman | title=Brevard has second-strongest economic growth | url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/money/business/2021/02/23/new-study-finds-brevard-county-has-second-strongest-economic-us/4538258001/| newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida| pages= 8A | date=February 24, 2021 | access-date=February 24, 2021}}</ref> === Personal income === As of the census of 2000: * Median income for a family – $47,571 * Median income for males – $36,542 * Median income for females – $24,632 * [[Per capita income]] – $21,484. The [[Florida locations by per capita income|county has the 17th highest per capita income in the state]] (out of 67). * Median income for a household – $40,099 * In 2005, the median income for a household had risen to $43,281<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Brevard+county&_cityTown=Brevard+county&_state=04000US12&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 |title=American FactFinder – Community Facts |first=U.S. Census |last=Bureau |website=factfinder.census.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200211180235/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Brevard+county&_cityTown=Brevard+county&_state=04000US12&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 |archive-date=February 11, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The county ranked 17th for per capita income, out of Florida's 67 counties. The following were below the [[poverty line]] in 2000: * Families – 6.80% * Total population – 9.50% * Under age 18 – 13.00% * Age 65 or older – 6.50% In 2012, 79,621 people in the county were receiving [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program|food stamps]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Andrew |last=Ford |title=Food stamp usage rises by 10,000 in Brevard |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120502/NEWS01/305020044/Food-stamp-usage-rises-by-10-000-Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=May 2, 2012 }}</ref> In 2010, there were 5,600 civilian government workers in the county. They earned an average of $74,000 each in 2009.<ref name="Pay freeze affect 5,600 in Brevard">{{Cite news |title=Pay freeze affect 5,600 in Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=November 30, 2010 }}</ref> In 2009, 84,401 households in the county (38%) received [[social security]] payments averaging $16,136 for a total of $1.7&nbsp;billion annually. 53,717 (24%) received pension payments averaging $24,327 for a total of $1.3&nbsp;billion annually.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Retirees bring in the bucks |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201012190315 |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=December 19, 2010 }}</ref><!---date differs between soft copy (12/20) and hard copy. But they are identical articles---> === Housing === In 2018, an official{{who|date=July 2021}} observed another possible housing bubble in the making. There were 250,000 housing units for a population of 580,000, ample for their needs. The population is not growing rapidly, new housing is being constructed. Nevertheless, prices are surging.<ref name="ft18014">{{cite web |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/12/if-were-housing-bubble-heres-what-brevard-governments-shouldnt-do/1028062001 |title=If we're in housing 'bubble,' here's what Brevard governments shouldn't do |website=floridatoday.com |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> The taxable value of property went from $20&nbsp;billion in 2002 to $40&nbsp;billion in 2007. In 2009 the bubble burst and a rapid descent to $24&nbsp;billion was experienced. in 2017, the value rose to $35&nbsp;billion. The last figure includes new construction.<ref name="ft18014" /> <!---some of the following needs to be collapsed or deleted---> In 2011, the county was rated 6th worst in the country for foreclosures. There were 1,039 for the third quarter of 2010. Nearly half the homes in the county were worth less than their mortgages. The average home had dropped 53.4% since the peak of the boom.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://realestate.aol.com/blog/gallery/10-cities-getting-slammed-by-foreclosures |title=10 Cities Getting Slammed By Foreclosures – AOL Real Estate |publisher=Realestate.aol.com |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622181551/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/gallery/10-cities-getting-slammed-by-foreclosures/ |archive-date=June 22, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, the county was the highest in foreclosure rate in the nation. In 2013, the metro area was rated "best" in the country for buying, with a 34 months supply of houses, with a discount rate of 28%, according to [[RealtyTrac]]. It has since reduced its backlog.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=No longer tops in foreclosure |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130131/BUSINESS/301310011/Brevard-no-longer-tops-foreclosures |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=[[Melbourne, Florida]] | pages=4B |date=January 31, 2013 }}</ref> Monthly foreclosures exceeded 746 from January 2009 through October. Maximum monthly home sales were less than 584 during that time frame, creating an accumulating backlog of unsold homes.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Keilani |last=Best |title=Despite challenges, year provided hope and entertainment |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=1E |date=December 20, 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, there were 15,000 more vacant homes than the economy could absorb; the population was not growing.<ref name="floridatoday.com" /> After various insurance companies pulled out of Florida after their losses from the [[List of Florida hurricanes (2000–present)#2004|2004 hurricane season]], [[property insurance]] became a major concern for many homeowners. As of 2011, 32,000 Brevard policyholders insure with the state-owned [[Citizens Property Insurance Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Matt |last=Reed |title=Citizens Property is in good shape |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011104240328 |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=April 24, 2011 }}</ref> The average non-foreclosed house sold for $143,000 in 2010, down from $147,000 in 2009. The average foreclosed house sold for $70,000 down from $81,000 in 2009. 25% of the houses sold in 2010 had been foreclosed. Total foreclosures rose from 2,200 in 2009 to 4,100 in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Median price isn't necessarily your price |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110403/BUSINESS/110402001/Median-price-isn-t-necessarily-your-price |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=April 3, 2011 }}</ref> In 2008, there were 1,550 permits for residential projects valued at $355.45&nbsp;million. That is the lowest number of filings since 1975.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090203/BUSINESS/902030308/1006/NEWS01 |title=Building permits lowest since 1975 |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> The lowest number of building permits was in 2009, 937. The highest was in 2005, 8,663.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Home starts rise but not by much |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110114/BUSINESS/101140315/Home-starts-in-Brevard-rise-see-slight-rise |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=8C |date=January 14, 2011 }}</ref> In 2010 [[Kiplinger]].com rated the county one of five "best" places in America to [[retirement|retire]]. Factors evaluated included cost of living, weather, the number of doctors, taxes, crime rates and recreational opportunities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100824/NEWS01/8240318/Kiplingers-puts-Brevard-back-on-best-place-list |title=News |first=John |last=McCarthy |date=August 24, 2010 |work=Florida Today |publisher=Florida Today |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013180508/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100824/NEWS01/8240318/Kiplingers-puts-Brevard-back-on-best-place-list |archive-date=October 13, 2015}}</ref> The largest home in Brevard is a 50-room {{convert|19000|ft2}} mansion in [[Suntree, Florida|Suntree]] built in 1991 and once owned by [[Cecil Fielder]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Mansion hits the block |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100519/NEWS01/5190342/Suntree-mansion-hits-the-block |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=May 19, 2010 }}</ref> ==== Development ==== The company developing [[Viera West, Florida|West Viera]] gained state permission and county acquiescence to create a self-governing board that could raise taxes and sell bonds to pay for roads, water lines, pumping stations and other infrastructure needed to support the construction of 16,500 houses, apartments and condominiums. The company proved that development could fund itself.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} === Industry === <!---Some of the following will need to be moved below---> The Brevard economy has been driven by Trade, Transportation and Utilities <!---Great header, I think ---> (18%), Professional and Business Services (17%), Total government (15%), Education and Health (14%), Manufacturing (12%), Leisure and hospitality (10%), Construction (6%), Financial (4%). In 2012 local government employed 21,000 workers. Over the years the percentage has varied from 7.2% to 7.9% of the population.<ref name="ft130112">{{Cite news |first=Matt |last=Reed |title=Brevard economy poised for takeoff |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130113/OPINION/301120010/Matt-Reed-Brevard-economy-poised-takeoff |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=[[Melbourne, Florida]] | pages=14A |date=January 13, 2013 }}</ref> The number of people working in construction dropped from 2,630 in 2005 to 1,420 in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Housing collapse cracks concrete |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111204/BUSINESS/312040009/Housing-collapse-cracks-concrete |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1D |date=December 4, 2011 }}</ref> Port Canaveral is one of the world's busiest [[cruise ship|cruise port]]. There are seven cruise lines, with six major cruise terminals. There is {{convert|750000|ft2}} of covered freight storage capacity. It handled {{convert|4000000|ST}} of cargo in 2004. The port has contributed $500&nbsp;million annually to the county's economy. [[American City Business Journals]] rated Brevard 7th for quality of life out of 67. Two hospitals were among the top five private employers in the county, together employing 8,850 in 2009.<ref name="countbud" /> In 2008, 14,865 workers were employed at the NASA/Kennedy Space Center. The Center directly spent $1.82&nbsp;billion in the county.<ref name="countbud" /> A concern has been the probable reassignment of thousands of Space Coast workers when the [[Space Shuttle]] is discontinued in 2010. In 2010, 9,000 jobs were expected to be lost from the shuttle and other programs.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Neale, Rick |title=From bad to worse |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100226/NEWS0204/2260321/1227/news0204/23+000+now+expected+to+lose+jobs+after+shuttle+retirement |publisher=[[Florida Today]] | date=February 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525234201/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100226/NEWS0204/2260321/1227/news0204/23+000+now+expected+to+lose+jobs+after+shuttle+retirement |archive-date=May 25, 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Each launch contributed $4&nbsp;million to the county's economy. Annually,$78&nbsp;million is spent at the Space Center Visitor's Complex, and $5.9&nbsp;million from space business visitors.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Keilani |last=Best |title=more than space |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=February 7, 2010 }}</ref> In 2014, there were 495 aerospace companies in the county. There were 36,223 workers. Sales and revenue from this industry were $3.4&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=Into the Blue |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014301260010 |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=27A |date=January 25, 2014 |access-date=January 30, 2014}}</ref><!---soft copy does not contain data that hard copy does and is included here for verisimilitude only--> [[L3Harris Technologies]], headquartered in the county, has the most employees in the private sector, 7,000 in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Bailey |last=Gallion |title=L3Harris's headquarters staying in Melbourne good news for Brevard County |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/money/business/2019/07/02/l-3-harris-melbourne-headquarters-importance/1630958001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |date=July 2, 2019 |access-date=May 9, 2020}}</ref> Two locally headquartered builders, [[Mercedes Homes]] and Holiday, were among the top 30 in the nation. Mercedes had $1&nbsp;billion in sales in 2004. There are 15 Community [[Redevelopment agency|Redevelopment agencies]] in the county. They are funded from real estate taxes in the affected area. Cocoa has three, and Eau Gallie, one.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=Redevelopment agencies stir up controversy |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,3A |date=April 12, 2017}}</ref><!--cannot discover soft copy. ---> ''Inc.'' magazine selected two local small companies as among the fastest growing in the country over the past three years – Applied Global Technology (nearly 100% annually) and Stops (nearly 200% annually). Though the area has a relatively small number of high technology companies, 736, a business journal ranked it eighth in the country as a high tech center in 2009. The area had 23,096 high-tech jobs with a ratio of 124 per 1,000 total jobs.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Florida Tech, KSC are technology assets |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=11A |date=May 15, 2009 }}</ref> The county had 1,050 restaurants in 2007 and nearly that many (1,040) in 2010. There were 22,600 leisure and hospitality workers in the county in 2006. This figure includes hotel workers. That figure had dropped 8.5% to 20,700 in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Keilani |last=Best |title=Eateries feel heat |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=October 17, 2010 }}</ref><!--probably should move workers to "labor" if there is such a subsection--> In the early 2010s, the [[Shiloh, Florida|Shiloh]] area was proposed by [[Space Florida]] as a potential location for the development of a [[private spaceflight|commercial-only]] [[spaceport]]. Located immediately north of the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. Government's]] Kennedy Space Center, the open access to the flyover range on the open [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the east, and easy access to the tracking facilities of the [[Eastern Range|Eastern Test Range]] make the location an attractive launch site. Among other potential users of the commercial spaceport facility, [[SpaceX]] was reported to be considering Shiloh as one of several potential locations for building a commercial launch facility.<ref name="ft20130403">{{cite news |last=Dean |first=James |title=Proposed Shiloh launch complex at KSC debated in Volusia |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130404/SPACE/130404009/Proposed-Shiloh-launch-complex-KSC-debated-Volusia |newspaper=Florida Today |date=April 3, 2013 |access-date=April 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145534/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130404/SPACE/130404009/Proposed-Shiloh-launch-complex-KSC-debated-Volusia |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ==== Military ==== Military installations in Brevard County include [[Patrick Space Force Base]], near [[Satellite Beach, Florida|Satellite Beach]], [[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station]] (CCSFS), adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center, and the U.S. Air Force Malabar Test Facility on Minton Road in<!---Isn't this a tracking station for NASA run by the USAF?---> suburban [[Palm Bay, Florida|Palm Bay]]. In 2009, they employed a total of 2,000 civilian federal workers.<ref name="Pay freeze affect 5,600 in Brevard" /> In 2012 there were 2,900 military jobs in the county.<ref name="ft130112" /> The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Maintains one station in Port Canaveral, the station is located on the east bank of the West Turning Basin. The station is home to USCG cutter 617.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/US+Coast+Guard/@28.5851114,-81.246022,167612m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m8!1m2!2m1!1scoast+guard+stations!3m4!1s0x0:0x4101773ea39d1af0!8m2!3d28.4154773!4d-80.6213531 |title=Google Maps |website=Google Maps |language=en |access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref><!-- This should have been included earlier, the Coast Guard is still military. --> The [[United States Navy|Navy]] maintains a [[Trident (missile)|Trident]] turning basin at Port Canaveral for [[ballistic missile submarine]]s. The [[Naval Ordnance Test Unit]] (NOTU) tests weapons on these subs, which arrive at the rate of one a month. 160 ships visited their two piers in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=Bryon |title=Meet Brevard County's Navy |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=12A |date=January 15, 2017 }}</ref> The [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|2005 base closures]] included realigning NOTU out of state. The community was successful in having this decision revoked.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} The unit employs 100 military personnel and 900 civilian contractors.<ref>{{Cite news |first=R. Norman |last=Moody |title=130 new civilian jobs coming to Havy weapons testing center |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/08/21/long-planned-notu-expansion-bring-new-jobs/32139171/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=August 22, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref> Cape Canaveral Space Force Station houses the [[Air Force Space & Missile Museum]] and [[Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 26|Launch Complex 26]], where many unmanned rockets were launched early in the U.S. space program, including ''[[Explorer 1]]'', the first US spacecraft placed in earth orbit.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} The {{USS|Brevard|AK-164}} was a World War II [[USS Alamosa (AK-156)|Alamosa-class]] naval cargo ship that was decommissioned shortly after the war.<!---I placed this here, but maybe it would be better in the history section?--->{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} ==== Agriculture ==== 23% of Brevard County is agricultural-usable for citrus, raising cattle or horses. Cattle ranches include the [[Deseret Ranches|Deseret]], [[Duda Ranch]], Kempfer, and two other major ranches.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=A Cattleman's Cattleman |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2016/03/10/rancher-kempfer-joins-florida-agricultural-hall-fame/80794244/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=25A |date=March 13, 2016 |access-date=March 13, 2016}}</ref> Citrus growers include Victory Groves and Harvey's Indian River Groves. The county ranked 21 out of 24 Florida counties in the shipment of gift fruit. {{citation needed|date=August 2021}} In 2009, [[aquaculture]] was a $900,000 business in the county.<ref name="disaster">{{Cite news |first=Jenet |last=Krol |title=USDA declares Brevard County primary disaster area |url=http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=66890 |publisher=Hometown News:The Beaches |location=Fort Pierce, Florida |pages=A4 |date=February 19, 2010 }}</ref> The county produces more than 25% of all [[Callinectes sapidus|blue crabs]] along Florida's East Coast.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neal |title=County pays to preserve waterfront |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100224/NEWS01/2240330/1006/County+pays+to+preserve+Merritt+Island+waterfront |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=February 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502031032/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100224/NEWS01/2240330/1006/County+pays+to+preserve+Merritt+Island+waterfront |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> There are 40 [[4-H]]-related clubs in the county, including livestock- and pet-related and after-school clubs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbbd.com/npr/4H/index.html |title=4-H Clubs – Titusville & Mims, Florida |website=www.nbbd.com |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> As in all [[Cooperative extension service]], a [[land grant college]], the [[University of Florida]], conducted over 60 courses in 2010 in aid of 4-H programs and other agricultural pursuits.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Brevard County Extension Classes 2010 |url=http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu/ |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |year=2010 }}</ref> In February 2010, the [[USDA]] declared that Brevard, along with 59 other Florida counties, was a "primary natural disaster area".<ref name="disaster" /> This happened when the temperature falls below {{convert|28|F|C}}c degrees for 4 hours, where crops are being grown. ==== Tourism ==== In 2016, tourism represents about 9% of the county's [[gross domestic product]]. The industry employs about 13% of the workforce.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=Tourists love our beaches, Kennedy Space Center |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/12/18/tourists-space-coast-love-our-beaches-ksc-they-spend-1-500-per-family-while-here/960383001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=December 19, 2017 |access-date=January 9, 2018}}</ref> The county raised its room tax to 5% in 2005. In 2012, this raised $8.4&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=If Nats bolt, tax may need a re-vote |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/A9/20130922/NEWS01/309220029/Tourist-tax-might-need-new-vote-Nats-leave |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,9A |date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=September 22, 2013}}</ref><!---soft copy is identical to hard copy except it lacks the actual data quoted here, which was a hard copy side bar---> In 2008, tourists spent $2.89&nbsp;billion in the county. This is distributed in several categories: lodging $839&nbsp;million, eating and drinking $509&nbsp;million, Kennedy Space Center $597&nbsp;million, retail sales $450&nbsp;million, entertainment $120&nbsp;million, and Port Canaveral $109&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Tourist dollar dreams |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=April 19, 2009 }}</ref> Brevard tourists come mainly from ten states: Florida itself is first, followed by [[Ohio]], [[Illinois]], [[Michigan]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[Virginia]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Minnesota]], and [[Pennsylvania]]. The five primary sources of foreign visitors are Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Italy.<ref>{{Cite news |title=More tourists may not mean more buying |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3E |date=April 19, 2009 }}</ref> 1.6&nbsp;million people visited the Space Center Visitor Complex in 2008.<ref name="countbud" /> Tourism, measured by the tourist tax, reached a peak in March 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vacation trends |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=March 13, 2011 }}</ref> In 2009, there were 2.4&nbsp;million overnight visitors in the county. There were 1.2&nbsp;million day visitors.<ref>{{Cite news |first=R. Norman |last=Moody |title=Redevelopment plan brews in Cocoa Beach |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110114/NEWS01/101140325/Redevelopment-plan-brews-in-Cocoa-Beach |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=January 14, 2011 }}</ref> In 2013, a city manager estimated that 20% of income from tourism comes during [[spring break]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Robert |last=Hughes |title=Keeping spring break subdued |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130317/BUSINESS/303170006/Keeping-spring-break-subdued |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=[[Melbourne, Florida]] | pages=1D |date=March 17, 2013 }}</ref> Brevard competes with other Florida areas for tourists. A number of organizations help promote the area. The [[Space Coast Office of Tourism]] consists of county staff and the Brevard County Tourist Development Council (TDC). They attempt to attract tourists. The TDC serves as an advisory council to the county on the expenditures of revenues received from a tourist tax. This revenue is spent on beach improvements, visitor information centers and website,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19991013123202/http://space-coast.com/] Florida's Space Coast</ref> promotion and advertising, the [[Brevard Zoo]], additional beach improvements and the Space Coast Stadium. $97.7&nbsp;million has been spent on [[beach nourishment|beach replenishment]] in the county between 2000 and 2010. This was funded 58% by the federal government, 27% by the state and 15% by the county.<ref name="ft100307">{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=The plan for sand |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/print/article/20100307/news01/3070320/Long-denied-renourishment-because-of-worm-beach-finally-may-get-bulked-up |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=March 7, 2010 }}</ref> In 2008 monthly tourist tax revenue slumped from a high of $1,174,742 in March to a seasonal low in September of $432,145.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Tourism tax wanes |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=8C |date=March 30, 2009 }}</ref> In 2008, the county had 11,000 hotel rooms available. In July 2007, there was a 66.1% occupancy rate.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Bakancia, Donna |title=Brevard hotels strive to attract guests as summer nears and new facilities open |publisher=Florida Today |date=April 27, 2008}}</ref> In 2008, the county had a nearly identical 81%+ occupancy rate in March and April. This fell to a seasonal low of 42.3% in September.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Room occupancy could pick up |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=8C |date=March 30, 2009 }}</ref> In January 2010, the average hotel room rate was $88.25.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Adam |last=Lowenstein |title=Car sales drive local economy |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=March 14, 2010 }}</ref> Cocoa Main Street, a member of the Florida and [[Main Street Programs in the United States|National Main Street Programs]], works toward restoring business sites in the historic area known as "Cocoa Village". Cocoa Main Street has received six Florida Main Street Awards given by the Secretary of State. The restored area is a tourist attraction and an economic magnet.<ref>[http://www.cocoamainstreet.com/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422075139/http://www.cocoamainstreet.com/ |date=April 22, 2008 }} Cocoa Main Street</ref> Melbourne Main Street is another historic business area and tourist attraction restored through the Main Street Programs.<ref>[http://www.downtownmelbourne.com/] Melbourne Main Street</ref> Brevard has five judged art festivals annually attracting tens of thousands of people to art displays. Most festivals are held in the spring or fall when many tourists can attend. Many other annual festivals are held in parks and public sites throughout the year. The Brevard Cultural Alliance (BCA) maintains an event calendar<ref>[http://www.artsbrevard.org/events/] BCA Cultural Events Calendar</ref> and a map of sites of historic, cultural, and ecological interest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artsbrevard.org/resources/map.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629222124/http://www.artsbrevard.org/resources/map.html |archive-date=June 29, 2007}} BCA Arts Map</ref> The annual Florida Key Lime Pie Festival is held beach side every Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. In 2018 The Florida Key Lime Pie Company successfully made the World's largest key lime pie.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/worlds-largest-key-lime-pie-displayed-at-7th-annual-florida-key-lime-pie-festival/ |title=World's Largest Key Lime Pie displayed at 7th Annual Florida Key Lime Pie Festival |date=2018-01-17 |website=Attractions Magazine |language=en-US |access-date=2019-12-29}}</ref> An annual February Greek Festival had over 8,000 visitors in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Britt |last=Kennerly |title=Greek Festival brings good spirit |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110227/NEWS01/102270321/Greek-festival-Melbourne-brings-good-spirits |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7B |date=February 27, 2011 }}</ref><!---38th annual---> The annual Grant Seafood Festival attracts as many as 50,000 people for the two-day February event. It is the [[Southeastern United States|Southeast's]] largest and longest running seafood festival.<ref>[http://www.grantseafoodfestival.com/] Grant Seafood Festival</ref> An ice skating rink in Rockledge serves the county's residents and visitors with hockey and figure skating events.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Dowling, Lyn |title=IcePlex gets new owners |publisher=Florida Today |date=January 14, 2008}}</ref> In 2009, recreational boat owners generated almost $51&nbsp;million annually towards the county economy, ranking the industry fifth in the state.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Boating's economic impact steady |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/floridatoday/access/1956691801.html?FMT=ABS&date=Feb+07%2C+2010 |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=February 7, 2010 }}</ref> ==== Competitiveness ==== In 2010 a local group compared the county against four other "peer" cities: [[Austin, Texas]]; [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]]; [[Huntsville, Alabama]]; and [[Raleigh, North Carolina]]. It evaluated nine areas: business dynamism/vitality, competitiveness, education, economic growth, economic prosperity, livability, productivity/labor supply, technology and innovation/work force. While the county does well against national figures, and scored high in livability, it usually ranked last against these "peers" in the other eight areas.<ref name="ranking">{{Cite news |first=Wayne T |last=Price |title=Ranking Brevard |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100321/BUSINESS/3210313/Ranking-Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=March 21, 2010 }}</ref> In 2009, the county had 13 patents per 1,000 workers, more than double the national average of 6.4 patents per 1,000.<ref name="ranking" /> In 2009, ''Forbes'' ranked the county 18th out of 100 [[United States metropolitan area|MSAs]] and first out of 8 metros in Florida for affordable housing and short commute times, among others.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=Forbes:Brevard's got bang for buck |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091208/BUSINESS/912080318/Forbes-magazine-says-Brevard-one-of-America-s-best-places |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=November 8, 2009 }}</ref><!---the measurement was called "Big Bang for the buck, which hardly sounded encylopedic. So I Left it out--> In August 2009, ''Florida Trend'' rated two Brevard companies, Harris Corporation<ref>[http://www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=51437] "Best Large Companies – 2009". Florida Trend.</ref> and Health First Health Plans,<ref>[http://www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=51438] "Best Midsized Companies – 2009". Florida Trend.</ref> in their rankings of the best places to work in Florida. In May 2009, the Palm Bay-Melbourne area was ranked as the No. 8 tech center in the United States by [[Bizjournals]]. It overcame its low number of total high-tech companies and jobs by having a high number of jobs per high tech company (#4) and high tech jobs compared to total private-sector jobs (#2).<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/edit_special/79.html] G. Scott Thomas (May 11, 2009). "San Jose leads as America's top tech center". bizjournals.</ref> <!---It's possible that some of this should be under Labor---> ''Forbes'' magazine ranked Melbourne 2nd out of 150 metropolitan areas in the US, for the percentage of the population that are engineers, <!---Need year as well as footnote---> 6.6%, just ahead of [[Silicon Valley]]. It reached a maximum employment of 254,514 in 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Health will lead in jobs outlook |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110109/BUSINESS/101090317/Finding-jobs-Health-will-lead-in-openings |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,9A |date=January 9, 2011 }}</ref> In 2006, ''[[Forbes magazine|Forbes]]'' magazine named Harris Corporation, headquartered in <!---check on redundancy---> Brevard, to its "Platinum 400" List. The Technological Research and Development Authority, based on the Space Coast, delivers technologies to schools and small businesses throughout the state of Florida. They obtain this information through strategic alliances with NASA, the federal government, the aerospace industry and state partners. They also sponsor a business incubator at the [[Melbourne International Airport|Melbourne Airport]]. The largest hotel in Brevard has 284 rooms and {{convert|30000|ft2}} of meeting space.<!---Radisson of the Port. Too small to compete with Orlando--><ref>{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=As Orlando slumps, so does Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3E |date=February 28, 2010 }}</ref><!---Florida Today declined to post local figures to the online article ---> === Labor === <!---desperately needs updating to reflect high unemployment in 2009---> There were 168,500 private sector jobs in the county in 2009. The [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] counted the following workers in Brevard along with average annual pay ($): * Retail 25,900 ($23,361) * Manufacturing 21,700 ($65,521) * Local government 20,100 ($42,517) * Hospitality 19,600 ($15,857). The largest local employer is [[Brevard Public Schools]] with 9,500 of whom 5,000 are teachers.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Laboring over jobs |url=http://m.floridatoday.com/BETTER/news.jsp?key=289844 |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=January 17, 2010 }}</ref><!--box scores containing private sector breakdown not available for confirmation online. Print version only---> Brevard County Teachers are represented by the Brevard Federation of Teachers ([[American Federation of Teachers|AFT]]). The county had an unemployment rate of 12.7% in January 2010, a 20-year record high.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=Jobless at 20-year high |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100311/BUSINESS/3110309/Jobless-at-20-year-high |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=6C |date=March 11, 2010 }}</ref> In March 2010, there were 33, 500 people out of work.<ref name="reform">{{Cite news |title=Editorial: Reforming Wall St. |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100402/OPINION/100401016/Our+views++Reforming+Wall+St.+%28April+2%29 |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=12A |date=April 2, 2010 }}</ref> The county experienced a record low unemployment in 2005 of 2.8%.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Annette |last=Clifford |title=A little help goes a long way for kids during holidays |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101205/COLUMNISTS0103/12050311/Annette-Clifford-A-little-help-goes-a-long-way-for-kids-during-holidays |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1D |date=December 5, 2010 }}</ref> There were 32,608 people unemployed in the county in January 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Applications aplenty |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110320/BUSINESS/110318041/Applications-aplenty-Companies-inundated-job-seekers |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=March 20, 2011 }}</ref><!---soft copy does NOT contain unemployment figure and is inserted here for credibility as the accompanying story---> In 2009, there were 6,400 federal workers, total, employed in the county. They earned an average of $74,600.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Shutdown spares essential services |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110407/NEWS01/104070326/Government-shutdown-would-spare-essential-services |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=April 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904042622/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110407/NEWS01/104070326/Government-shutdown-would-spare-essential-services |archive-date=September 4, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2009, average annual salaries in the county for engineers was $90,563; [[registered nurses]] $53,315; education $49,441; police officers $43,035; cooks $21,569; and cashiers $19,489. The average annual pay for all workers was then $42,411.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=High-paying jobs scant outside KSC |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101128/NEWS01/11280317/High-paying-jobs-scant-outside-KSC |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=6A |date=November 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129075840/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101128/NEWS01/11280317/High-paying-jobs-scant-outside-KSC |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2011, there were more engineers (48) per thousand workers than any other region in the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Myatt |last=Murphy |date=August 2011 |title=Ready to Launch |journal=Sky (Delta) |page=82 }}</ref><!---this is a tertiary ref that will be used in other places. It would be nice to have a secondary ref---> [[Kennedy Space Center]] (KSC) is the largest employer in the county with 15,000 contractors and civil servants.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Halvorson, Todd |title=KSC chief says more tech work needed |publisher=Florida Today |date=May 12, 2007}}</ref> While there is concern about the new generation of space vehicles requiring 1/3 fewer workers, about that number were eligible for retirement by 2011. Unions represented at KSC include the [[American Federation of Government Employees]], the [[International Association of Machinists]] and the [[International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers]]. In 2005, the Next Generation Consulting for Leadership Brevard, a leadership development organization for local business and civic groups, and Brevard Tomorrow commissioned a survey of people 21–44. Basically, these people often found the area "boring", mainly because it is family-friendly at the expense of being singles-friendly. While this may have labor repercussions later, currently business is having no problems hiring.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} === Banking === In 2007, [[Space Coast Credit Union]] was the largest locally based financial institution in Brevard County and the third largest credit union in the state of Florida, with assets of over $3&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncua.gov/DataServices/CreditUnionList.aspx?Application=CUEXpanded&State=FL |title=NCUA Data Summary |website=ncua.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310072530/http://www.ncua.gov/DataServices/CreditUnionList.aspx?Application=CUEXpanded&State=FL |archive-date=March 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author=Sonnenberg, Maria |title=Union Label |publisher=Florida Today |date=April 8, 2007}}</ref> In 2011, [[Wells Fargo]], with $1.9&nbsp;billion in local deposits, had 26% share of the business; [[SunTrust]] $1.3&nbsp;billion, 17%; [[Bank of America]] $1.2&nbsp;billion, 16%; [[Regions Bank]] $408&nbsp;million, 5%; and [[JPMorgan Chase]] $379&nbsp;million, 5%.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Bank fee falls to social network pressure, outrage |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111113/BUSINESS/311130013/Bank-fee-falls-social-network-pressure-outrage |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7D |date=November 13, 2011 }}</ref><!---note that figures don't seem to leave room for a very large Space Coast Credit Union. Either is not included deliberately because it is a credit union, or something is wrong--> === Retail === In 2011, the majority of groceries were sold in [[chain stores]]. [[Publix]] has 23 stores; [[Winn-Dixie]] has 10; [[Wal-Mart]] has 12 stores; the county has three [[warehouse club]]s<!---2 Sams Clubs, one on US192 in Melbourne and one off SR520 in Cocoa and BJs off Palm Bay Road-->. 38% of groceries were purchased at Publix, 30% at Wal-Mart superstores, and 7% at Winn-Dixie.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=Publix tops customer satisfaction |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120221/BUSINESS/302210014/Publix-tops-customer-satisfaction-list |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=4B |date=February 21, 2012 }}</ref> === Private charities === In 2013, there were 1,611 private charities registered in the county. They received $1.5&nbsp;billion, spent $1.4&nbsp;billion, and held $2.5&nbsp;billion in assets.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Sara |last=Paulson |title=Report: Public charities spike locally |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/08/07/report-public-charities-spike-brevard-resources-lag/31302889/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=August 10, 2015 |access-date=August 11, 2015}}</ref> == Health == === Health statistics === Brevard was ranked 25th in the state, out of 67 counties, for health outcomes in 2014. 22% of residents smoke, 28% are obese, 25% are physically inactive, 20% drink in excess. The county ranked 13 in clinical care, 25th in societal factors (including air pollution and drinking water quality).<ref>{{Cite news |first=Chuck |last=McClung |title=Brevard healthy, but has a way to go |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2014/03/27/brevard-healthy-but-has-a-way-to-go/6938077/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A, 6A |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2014}}</ref> In 2013, there were about 88,000 persons without medical insurance in the county.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Answers to Floridians' concerns coming soon |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130929/NEWS01/309290053/Answers-Floridians-health-care-concerns-coming-soon |work=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=September 29, 2013 |access-date=September 29, 2013}}</ref> Health care services tend to cost more in Brevard than [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] or the statistical average in Florida. In 2009, a nursing home private room averaged $79,023 annually, semi-private $74,643, private one-bedroom assisted living $39,000. A home health aide, Medicare-certified, was $88,660, substantially higher than the Florida average of $51,480. Adult day care (44 hours) was cheaper at $12,870 annually, as was a home health aide "licensed-only" $38,896.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Health care services |work=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=10C |date=May 1, 2009 }}</ref> According to 2007 health risk data from the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]], Brevard County (Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area) is tied for fourth highest among all [[Micropolitan Statistical Area|Micro]]- and [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]s in percentage of heavy drinkers.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120707003510/http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/BRFSS-SMART/MMSARiskChart.asp?MMSA=215&yr=2007&qkey=4413&cat=AC&grp=0 SMART: BRFSS City and County Health Risk Data] Heavy drinkers are defined as adult men who imbibe more than two alcoholic drinks per day and adult women who imbibe more than one alcoholic drink per day.</ref> In 2013, the County Health Department Director issued a caution about the potential danger of [[Vibrio vulnificus|flesh-eating bacteria]] that inhabit inland estuaries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.brevardtimes.com/2013/10/health-officials-warn-of-flesh-eating.html |title=Health Officials Warn Of Flesh-Eating Bacteria in Florida Estuaries |work=Brevard Times |date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> === Healthcare facilities === As of 2011, there were ten hospitals in the county, with 1,734 beds total.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Hospital draws many job seekers |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110204/BUSINESS/102040314/Hospital-draws-many-job-seekers |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=6C |date=February 4, 2011 }}</ref> Health First is the largest healthcare provider in the county, consisting of four not-for-profit hospitals—Cape Canaveral Hospital in [[Cocoa Beach, Florida|Cocoa Beach]], Holmes Regional Medical Center in [[Melbourne, Florida|Melbourne]], Viera Hospital in [[Viera, Florida]] and Palm Bay Community Hospital in [[Palm Bay, Florida|Palm Bay]]. Besides hospitalization, services include outpatient centers; the county's only trauma center (at [[Holmes Regional Medical Center]]); home care; specialized programs for cancer, diabetes, heart, stroke, and rehabilitative services; central Brevard's largest medical group; and Medicare Advantage, commercial POS, and commercial HMO health plans. Health First tries to integrate quality healthcare services with state-of-the-art technology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.health-first.org/ |title=Health First – Brevard Florida Health Insurance – Space Coast Health Care Provider – Emergency Room |first=Corporate Marketing |last=(TA) |website=www.health-first.org |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> [[Parrish Medical Center]], a 210-bed hospital, was named America's No. 1 Healing Hospital for the third straight year by the [[Baptist Healing Trust]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parrishmed.com/ |title=Parrish Medical Center |website=Parrish Medical Group |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> Space Coast Center for Independent Living offers over-all services for individuals with all types of disabilities: peer support, advocacy, skills training, accessibility surveys, support groups, transportation, specialized equipment, sign language interpreter coordination services,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ese.brevard.k12.fl.us/ICB/SCCIndLiving.html |title=Space Coast Center for Independent Living (SCCIL) |website=brevard.k12.fl.us |access-date=January 14, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008212001/http://ese.brevard.k12.fl.us/ICB/SCCIndLiving.html |archive-date=October 8, 2006}}</ref> and a program for high school students for career development.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sccil.net/learn-to-earn-summer-youth-program |title=Space Coast Center for Independent Living |website=Space Coast Center for Independent Living |language=en |access-date=June 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617042910/https://www.sccil.net/learn-to-earn-summer-youth-program |archive-date=June 17, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Space Coast Early Intervention Center is a nationally recognized not-for-profit pre-school and therapeutic center that offers care and aids with the development of small children with special needs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sceic.com/_site2005/home_template.php |title=SCEIC |website=sceic.com |access-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715162600/http://www.sceic.com/_site2005/home_template.php |archive-date=July 15, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Children are treated and educated with the specific goal of mainstreaming children diagnosed with the following into public school: [[Down syndrome]], [[Williams syndrome]], [[cerebral palsy]], [[DiGeorge syndrome|deletion syndrome]], [[Pervasive developmental disorder|PDDs]] including [[Rett syndrome]], [[autism]], and [[Apert syndrome]], as well as children with visual, speech and hearing delays. Health Outreach Prevention & Education (HOPE) is a network of community partners working together to provide care for people without insurance, and for children with special needs. This network includes hospitals.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} Harmony Farms runs a [[Therapeutic horseback riding|therapeutic riding program]] located on land donated by [[Duda Ranch]] located in [[Cocoa, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sheets |first1=Tess |title=Hurricane Irma spares Harmony Farms; flooding torments weeks after |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/26/hurricane-irma-spares-harmony-farms-flooding-torments-weeks-after/703728001/ |access-date=10 August 2021 |work=Florida Today}}</ref> === Mental Health === The Brevard Alzheimer's Foundation is unique for being a local organization only. It has three [[adult daycare]] service locations and often provides transportation and funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardalzheimers.org/ |title=Brevard Alzheimer's Foundation – Melbourne, Florida |website=www.brevardalzheimers.org |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> The non-profit Circles of Care provides mental health programs to Brevard.<ref>[http://www.circlesofcare.org/current/locate.html Circles of Care: Physical Locations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203042155/http://www.circlesofcare.org/current/locate.html |date=February 3, 2007}}</ref> Dialing [[2-1-1]] in the county gives response to people in crisis and/or needing information about community resources.<ref>[http://www.211brevard.org/home/pages/helpline.cfm 2-1-1 Helpline] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070424175850/http://www.211brevard.org/home/pages/helpline.cfm |date=April 24, 2007 }}</ref> == Former place names == <!-- probably belongs as a sub-section in Geography --> {{Main|Former place names in Brevard County, Florida}} There are place names currently used, or used at one time by the USGS. Some are early developments, while others are former stations along the main line of the [[Florida East Coast Railway]]. Several of these disappeared when Kennedy Space Center took over their area.<ref name="Map">{{Cite book |title=Cape Canaveral |series=Images of America |page=42,44–45,87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gP8sHFpNXugC&q=Images+of+America:+Cape+Canaveral |last=Osborne |first=Ray |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7385-5327-6}}</ref> == Education == {{Main|Education in Brevard County, Florida}} Higher education is provided by [[Eastern Florida State College]] (EFSC) and [[Florida Institute of Technology]]. There are [[satellite campus]]es for the [[University of Central Florida]], [[Barry University]], [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University]], [[Keiser University]], and [[Webster University]]. Elementary and secondary education is provided by the [[Brevard Public Schools]] and private schools. In 2011, six public schools were ranked by the state in the top ten schools in the state, out of 2,800 There was one list each for primary and secondary schools.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Mackenzie |last=Ryan |title=Six Brevard schools score big with state |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120131/NEWS13/301310015/Six-Brevard-schools-score-big-state-s-new-ranking-system |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=January 31, 2012 }}</ref><!---2,800 comes from Florida DOE article---> == Libraries == {{Main|Brevard County Library System}} The Brevard County Library System has 17 branches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardcounty.us/PublicLibraries/Home |title=Brevard County Public Libraries |website=www.brevardcounty.us |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> Although the Merritt Island Public Library is counted as part of the Brevard County Public Library System, it is actually a special library district. In 2005, HB1079 was passed to codify all the special acts that the Merritt Island Public Library District exists under.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=16753 |title=Florida House of Representatives – HB 1079 – Merritt Island Public Library District, Brevard County |website=www.myfloridahouse.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> Cocoa Beach is home to 11X World Surfing Champion [[Kelly Slater]]. Among many other Athletes from the Space Coast Beaches talent pool have earned their top places on the World Surf League Pro Tour. == Sports == ;Minor league baseball Brevard County was the home of the [[Brevard County Manatees]], the [[Class A (minor league baseball)|Class-A]] affiliate of the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] until 2016. In 2009, the Space Coast Surge, a member of the [[Florida Winter Baseball League]], had the Cocoa Stadium as their home stadium.<ref>[http://www.spacecoastsurge.com/ Space Coast Surge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203200135/http://www.spacecoastsurge.com/ |date=February 3, 2015 }}</ref> ;Major league baseball The [[Washington Nationals]] held their [[spring training]] at [[Space Coast Stadium]] in [[Viera, Florida|Viera]] until 2016. They play about 14 games against other professional teams locally in March as part of the [[Grapefruit League|"Grapefruit" League]].<ref>''Grapefruit League'', Florida Today, February 28, 2007</ref> ;Minor league basketball The [[Brevard Blue Ducks]], members of the [[United States Basketball League]] (USBL), played at the Clemente Center at Florida Tech.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Jemele |title=Living out a fantasy with Blue Ducks |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2005-06-25-hill25-story.html |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=June 25, 2005}}</ref> ;Minor league football The Brevard Rams and Space Coast Predators were scheduled to play as members of the [[Florida Football Alliance]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/fitness/2009/09/semi-pro-football-space-coast-predators.shtml |title=Semi-pro football Space Coast Predators |date=September 14, 2009 |work=Florida Today |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> ;Amateur sports Aside from school-sponsored sports, there are youth leagues for basketball,<ref>{{Cite news |first=George |last=White |title=Youth basketball gets into full swing |work=South Beaches Breeze |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=3 |date=January 6, 2010 }}</ref> football, soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics,<ref>{{Cite news |first=George |last=White |title=Brevard gymnasts shine in Orlando competition |work=South Beaches Breeze |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=7 |date=January 13, 2010 }}</ref> baseball<ref>{{cite news |work=South Beaches Breeze |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=various |date=December 30, 2009 }}</ref> and swimming.<ref>{{cite news |title=Farewell Brevard County Swimming |url=http://brevardcountyswimming.blogspot.com/ |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> == Infrastructure == === Transportation === The county contains about 300 [[Filling station|gasoline retail outlets]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=A convenient competition |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/04/14/convenient-competition-wawa-and-cumberland-farms-expand-industry-accelerates/100381818/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,4A |date=April 15, 2017 |access-date=April 15, 2017}}</ref> === Airports === * [[Arthur Dunn Airpark]] * [[Orlando Melbourne International Airport]] * [[Merritt Island Airport]] * [[Space Coast Regional Airport]] * [[Valkaria Airport]] {{Main|Brevard County Transportation}} While Brevard County has transportation available in the usual modes for a coastal county—highways, shipping, and airlines—it has the addition of space transportation, making it unique in the world.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Myatt |last=Murphy |date=August 2011 |title=Ready to Launch |journal=Sky (Delta) |page=83 }}</ref> Public transportation is provided by [[Space Coast Area Transit]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ridescat.com/ |title=Space Coast Area Transit Brevard's Transportation Experts |publisher=Ridescat.com |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> === Power === [[Florida Power & Light]] maintains an oil-fired generating plant at [[Sharpes, Florida|Sharpes]]; it generates {{convert|800|MW}}, supplying most of the requirements for the county. In 2008 the company announced plans to replace the plant with a more efficient [[natural gas]]-powered plant in 2013 with a 1,250 megawatt capacity, which can supply 250,000 homes or businesses.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://partners.marketcenter.com/cboe/news/story.action?id=KRO122e1174&symbol=&count=10 |title=FPL Company News |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> Near FPL's plant is the Indian River Power Plant; formerly owned by the [[Orlando Utilities Commission]], it is now owned and operated by [[RRI Energy]]. In 2016, FPL had 304,400 customers in Brevard.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=FPL aims to restore all service in Brevard by today |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2016/10/06/power-outages-reported-in-brevard-hurricane-matthew/91700086/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=October 9, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2016}}</ref><!---Soft copy is DIFFERENT than hard copy. Online story kept changing, but contains quantity of customers---> [[AGL Resources#Florida City Gas|Florida City Gas]] furnishes natural gas to various areas of the county.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.floridacitygas.com/Universal/AboutUs.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625221118/http://floridacitygas.com/Universal/AboutUs.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 25, 2007 |title=About Florida City Gas |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> === Communication === The [[area code]] for most of the county became "[[Area code 321|321]]" in 1999, as in the "3...2...1... lift-off!" countdown sequence. A small portion of the county along the southern border, including the communities of [[Micco, Florida|Micco]] and [[Barefoot Bay, Florida|Barefoot Bay]], share a [[Area code 772|772 area code]] with [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River County and St. Lucie County, Florida]] to the south. === Solid waste === The county government maintains various [[landfill]]s for [[solid waste]]. Brevard County Central Disposal Facility is located in [[Cocoa, Florida|Cocoa]], has a size {{convert|190|acre|adj=on}} and receives annually around 275,000 tonnes of waste.<ref>[http://www.atlas.d-waste.com/ Waste Atlas] Faculty: Brevard County Central Disposal Facility</ref> In 2011, the average homeowner paid $57 annually to fund the maintenance of these sites.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Don |last=Walker |title=Landfill addition may be averted |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=November 2, 2011 }}</ref> Municipalities and the county contract separately for the pickup and transportation of waste, for which businesses and homeowners pay a separate monthly fee. In 2013, the county planned a new $100&nbsp;million landfill, north of State Road 192, near the border with Osceola County, {{convert|8.5|miles}} west of I-95. The county has awarded a $3.9&nbsp;million contract for a wetlands mitigation for this new landfill.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Wetlands mitigation credit pact awarded |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=[[Melbourne, Florida]] | pages=2A |date=January 13, 2013 }}</ref> In 2013, the county, for the first time, let a seven-year contract out for bids for solid waste. The resulting contract is expected to cost $1&nbsp;billion over the lifetime of the contract, the county's largest single contract. This was the first time in 20 years, a bid was requested. In the past, [[Waste Management, Inc]] has performed the work, not only for the county but for 9 of 16 Brevard municipalities. Waste Pro has five of the remaining municipal contracts. Rockledge and Titusville maintain their own trash service.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=County trash deal up for bids |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130108/NEWS01/301080018/Brevard-County-s-trash-deal-up-bids |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=January 8, 2013 }}</ref> In 2013, the county directly contracts for solid waste pickup for 100,000 residences.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=Brevard might trash manual pickup system |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130219/NEWS01/302120046/Brevard-might-trash-manual-pickup-system |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=[[Melbourne, Florida]] | pages=2A |date=January 13, 2013 }}</ref> During one month in 2018, the recycling vendor processed {{convert|9334|ST}} of glass, plastic, cardboard, paper and metal. {{convert|2800|ST}}, 38%, of this was polluted with non-recyclable material. It had to be separated and transported to the Central Disposal Facility in Cocoa. This cost the vendor $66,248 ($23.66/US ton) in landfill disposal fees plus $21,000 in transport fees.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Several unhappy returns in Melbourne |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2018/08/08/62-percent-melbourne-recycling-carts-contaminated-trash/901717002/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,6A |date=August 9, 2018 |access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/environment/2018/06/12/plastic-bags-bad-recycling/672297002/ |title=Plastic bags, garbage are plaguing Brevard's recycling plant, forcing costly shutdowns |website=floridatoday.com |access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref> === Water === In 2013, the county consumed about {{convert|100000000|USGAL}} daily. Landscape irrigation accounted for about half of this usage.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Watering OK twice a week; restraint is urged |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130309/NEWS01/303090017/Watering-OK-twice-week-restraint-urged |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=[[Melbourne, Florida]] | pages=1B |date=March 9, 2013 }}</ref> In 2017, there were five municipal entities selling water (figures in parentheses are millions of gallons/day): Cocoa (22), Melbourne (19), Palm Bay (6), Titusville (2), and West Melbourne (1). The fifth, Brevard County (1), is low because county areas outside the preceding cities, purchase their water from those cities.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Wasted Water |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/04/28/high-water-use-often-remains-mystery/101021904/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=April 30, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2017}}</ref> === Wastewater === The county controls six Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Mims ({{convert|900000|USgal}}/day), Port St. John ({{convert|500000|USgal}}/day), South Central (Viera) ({{convert|12000000|USgal}}/day), South Beaches, and Barefoot Bay area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brevardfl.gov//UtilityServices/WasteWater |title=Brevard County Florida Utility Services Wastewater |website=www.brevardfl.gov |access-date=September 28, 2018}}</ref> Some cities have wastewater treatment plants, as well.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City of Melbourne Wastewater Treatment Plant (in Brevard County, FL) |url=https://florida.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,2,fid,2450616,n,city%20of%20melbourne%20wastewater%20treatment%20plant.cfm |access-date=2020-10-12 |website=florida.hometownlocator.com |language=en}}</ref> == Media == === Newspapers === ''[[Florida Today]]'' is the major daily newspaper serving Melbourne, Brevard County and the Space Coast region of Florida. It is owned by the media conglomerate [[Gannett]]. A monthly newspaper, ''El Playero'', serves the Spanish-speaking population of the Space Coast. The ''Space Coast Daily'', ''Viera Voice'' and ''Hometown News'' also cover local news within Brevard County. The ''Brevard Technical Journal'' is the industry monthly newspaper for business management, engineering, purchasing and manufacturing. It features news topics ranging from business to technology. === Radio === {{Melbourne, Florida radio}} === Television === Most of Brevard County receives [[cable television]] from [[Charter Spectrum]]. [[Comcast]] serves the Micco and Palm Bay areas in southern Brevard County. Local stations licensed to or located in Brevard County include: <!---unfortunately we have to exclude stations without articles. Okay to stub station ----> <!--- stubbed out for lack of article. Note that once all of these are at least stubbed, we can set up a separate section in List of television stations in Florida and list ourselves there * Channel 15 NASA Select, Space Launches and News * Brighthouse 1 or 99/Comcast 26 – Space Coast Government Television * Channel 22 WMJV * Channel 31 WSCF ----> * Channel 43 [[WOTF-TV]] ([[UniMás]]) * Channel 52 [[WHLV-TV]] ([[Trinity Broadcasting Network|TBN]]) * Channel 68 [[WEFS]] (educational [[Independent station (North America)|independent]]) === Films and television === The following films were filmed (in parts) in Brevard County:<ref>[http://m.floridatoday.com/news.jsp?key=230981 Florida Today] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120714160007/http://m.floridatoday.com/news.jsp?key=230981 |date=July 14, 2012 }}</ref> * ''[[Matinee (1993 film)|Matinee]]'' (1993), filmed in Cocoa Village and Cocoa Playhouse * ''[[Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13]]'' (1995), ''[[Contact (1997 American film)|Contact]]'' (1997), ''[[Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon]]'' (1998) and ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]'' (1979) all utilized Cape Canaveral or Kennedy Space Center facilities. * ''[[Marvin's Room (film)|Marvin's Room]]'' (1996), filmed in [[Rockledge, Florida|Rockledge]] * ''[[Nightmare (1981 film)|Nightmare]]'' (1981) horror film shot in [[Merritt Island]], [[Cocoa, Florida|Cocoa]], [[Cocoa Beach, Florida|Cocoa Beach]] and [[Titusville, Florida|Titusville]] * ''[[A Night in Heaven]]'' (1983), filmed in Titusville * ''[[Things Behind the Sun]]'' (2001), by independent filmmakers [[Allison Anders]], raised in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, and Kurt Voss * ''[[Space Cowboys]]'' (2000) * Portions of ''[[Jaws 3-D]]'' (1983) were filmed on the Minutemen Causeway. * ''[[The Number 23]]'' (2007) shot scenes on the shore of Cocoa Beach. * ''[[I'll Believe You]]'' (2007) * ''[[The Manure Film Project: A Crappy Documentary with Absolutely No Budget]]'' (2018)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2556640/locations |title=The Manure Film Project: A Crappy Documentary with Absolutely No Budget |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> * ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]'', directed by [[Michael Bay]]. Filmed in 2010 at Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), orbiter processing facilities, and launch pad among other areas Television series included: * ''[[The Cape (1996 TV series)|The Cape]]'', 13 episodes (1996 through 1997) * ''[[From the Earth to the Moon (miniseries)|From the Earth to the Moon]]'', a miniseries (1998) * ''[[I Dream of Jeannie]]'', a 1960s comedy series, was set in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral but filmed in California. == Arts and culture == <!---Needs a smooth introduction---> The [[Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts]], seating 2000, features locally produced and former Broadway shows, ballet, and symphony. Several different performances are scheduled each week. The [[Brevard Symphony Orchestra]] and the Space Coast Ballet offer shows performed by professionals. There is the professional Space Coast Symphony Orchestra.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacecoastsymphony.org/ |title=Home – Space Coast Symphony Orchestra |website=www.spacecoastsymphony.org |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> Community orchestras and bands include, but are not limited to, the Melbourne Community Orchestra,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mcorchestra.org/ |title=Welcome to the Melbourne Community Orchestra |website=Melbourne Community Orchestra |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> the Space Coast Pops and the Community Band of Brevard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://communitybandofbrevard.com/ |title=The Community Band of Brevard |website=communitybandofbrevard.com |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> Choral groups include the Brevard Community Chorus,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://brevardcommunitychorus.org/ |title=Home |website=brevardcommunitychorus.org |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> the Indialantic Chamber Singers,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indialanticchambersingers.org/ |title=Home |website=indialanticchambersingers.org |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> and the Brevard Youth Chorus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://brevardyouthchorus.org/ |title=Brevard Youth Chorus – for kids who love to sing! |website=brevardyouthchorus.org |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> The [[Brevard Zoo]] is a {{convert|75|acre}} facility<ref>{{cite web |url=https://brevardzoo.org/aboutthezoo/index.html |title=Brevard Zoo Information |access-date=November 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013025439/http://www.brevardzoo.org/aboutthezoo/index.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref> that contains more than 650 animals representing more than 165 species from Florida, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. The Zoo offers animal experiences including giraffe and [[lorikeet]] feedings, African kayak tours, paddle boats in the wetlands and a train ride. ;Ballet The Space Coast Ballet incorporates professional principal dancers and instructors together with many roles for local senior talent as well as roles for students. They annually stage ''[[The Nutcracker]]''. ;Museums and attractions <!----Arts seems like a good place for museums ---> The Space Coast has a number of museums from the rocket exhibitions at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the [[Air Force Space and Missile Museum]], to local museums and others of unique character, such as the [[American Police Hall of Fame & Museum]].{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} <!---probably should be moved to tourism the way it is written---> The [[Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex]] offers an educational look at the accomplishments of America's space program. The Observation Gantry near [[Launch Complex 39]] offers a view of the [[Space Shuttle]] launch pads (first built for the [[Apollo program|Apollo missions]]), the [[Vehicle Assembly Building]], and the [[crawlerway]] over which rockets are taken to the pad. The [[Apollo/Saturn V Center]] displays an example of the largest [[Saturn V|rocket]] ever launched.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} The [[US Space Walk of Fame]] in Titusville commemorates the manned space program's history with museum and monuments.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} The [[Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science]] features the remains of the "Windover Man", the oldest human remains found on the North American continent, and a re-creation of the [[Windover Archaeological Site|Windover Dig]], a "wet" archaeological site. A visitor may see how Native Americans lived and Florida pioneers survived.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science |url=http://www.nbbd.com/godo/BrevardMuseum/ |access-date=October 10, 2012}}</ref> Honor America runs the [[Liberty Bell Memorial Museum]]. This houses a replica of the Liberty Bell, historical documents, and patriotic memorabilia. Items are permanent reminders of our nation's history, as well as a memorial to military veterans. The Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park and Cultural Center features a museum with artifacts and timeline of the [[civil rights movement]] and the story of [[Harry T. Moore|Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore]], civil rights leaders who were killed after their home was bombed on December 25, 1951.<ref>{{cite web | title=Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Cultural Complex, Inc.|url=https://www.harryharriettemoore.org/the-moores |access-date=January 22, 2021}}</ref> ;Other <!---this needs to go somewhere because it is "different"---> During the December holiday season, each of four yacht club parades during the evening in the Indian River/Banana River with holiday lighting on each boat.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}<!---CB, Port C, EG, Melb---> == Communities == <!---[[WP:RS]] citations are needed per [[WP:NLIST]]---> === Cities === {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * [[Cape Canaveral, Florida|Cape Canaveral]] * [[Cocoa, Florida|Cocoa]] * [[Cocoa Beach, Florida|Cocoa Beach]] * [[Indian Harbour Beach, Florida|Indian Harbour Beach]] * [[Melbourne, Florida|Melbourne]] * [[Palm Bay, Florida|Palm Bay]] * [[Rockledge, Florida|Rockledge]] * [[Satellite Beach, Florida|Satellite Beach]] * [[Titusville, Florida|Titusville]] * [[West Melbourne, Florida|West Melbourne]] {{div col end}} === Towns === {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * [[Grant-Valkaria, Florida|Grant-Valkaria]] * [[Indialantic, Florida|Indialantic]] * [[Malabar, Florida|Malabar]] * [[Melbourne Beach, Florida|Melbourne Beach]] * [[Melbourne Village, Florida|Melbourne Village]] * [[Palm Shores, Florida|Palm Shores]] {{div col end}} === Census-designated places === {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * [[Cocoa West, Florida|Cocoa West]] * [[June Park, Florida|June Park]] * [[Merritt Island, Florida|Merritt Island]] * [[Micco, Florida|Micco]] * [[Mims, Florida|Mims]] * [[Patrick Space Force Base|Patrick SFB]] * [[Port St. John, Florida|Port St. John]] * [[Sharpes, Florida|Sharpes]] * [[South Patrick Shores, Florida|South Patrick Shores]] * [[Viera East, Florida|Viera East]] * [[Viera West, Florida|Viera West]] {{div col end}} === Other unincorporated communities === {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * [[Angel City, Florida|Angel City]] * [[Aurantia, Florida|Aurantia]] * [[Barefoot Bay, Florida|Barefoot Bay]] * [[Bellwood, Florida|Bellwood]] * [[Canaveral Groves, Florida|Canaveral Groves]] * [[Courtenay, Florida|Courtenay]] * [[Eau Gallie, Florida|Eau Gallie]] * [[Floridana Beach, Florida|Floridana Beach]] * [[Georgiana, Florida|Georgiana]] * [[Indianola, Florida|Indianola]] * [[Lotus, Florida|Lotus]] * [[Melbourne Shores, Florida|Melbourne Shores]] * [[Pineda, Florida|Pineda]] * [[Scottsmoor, Florida|Scottsmoor]] * [[Shiloh, Florida|Shiloh]] * [[South Cocoa Beach, Florida|South Cocoa Beach]] * [[Suntree, Florida|Suntree]] * [[Tropic, Florida|Tropic]] {{div col end}} == See also == * [[Brevard, North Carolina]] * [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Brevard County, Florida]] == References == {{Reflist}} == Further reading == * {{Cite book |first=Glenda Carlin |last=Busick |title=Brevard good ole boys: A taxpayer searches for truth in the "good ole boy" network of county government |publisher=Free Press Publishing |year=1992 |location=Tampa, Florida |asin=B0006OUK3C }} – a critic summarizes and comments on Brevard politics in the late 20th century * {{Cite book |first=John |last=Eriksen |title=Brevard County, Florida: A Short History to 1955 |publisher=JohnEriksen.net/ |year=1994 |location=Melbourne, Florida |asin=B076H69FDW }} – This is a documented history of Brevard County, from prehistoric to the space age. Documented with 320 end notes drawn from 1000 sources. * Middleton, Sallie. "Space Rush: Local Impact of Federal Aerospace Programs on Brevard and Surrounding Counties," ''Florida Historical Quarterly,'' Fall 2008, Vol. 87 Issue 2, pp 258–289 == External links == * {{Commons category-inline}} * {{Wikivoyage-inline|Brevard County}} * {{osmrelation|389024}} ; Government links and constitutional offices * [http://www.brevardcounty.us/ Brevard County Government / Board of County Commissioners] * [http://brevardelections.org/ Brevard County Supervisor of Elections] * [https://www.bcpao.us/ Brevard County Property Appraiser] * [http://www.brevardsheriff.com/ Brevard County Sheriff's Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817162751/http://www.brevardsheriff.com/ |date=August 17, 2013 }} * [http://www.brevardparks.com/ Brevard County Parks and Recreation] * [http://www.brevardcounty.us/usd/sc-reuse.cfm South Central Regional Water Reclamation Facility] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024175929/http://www.brevardcounty.us/usd/sc-reuse.cfm |date=October 24, 2015 }} ; Special districts * [https://web.archive.org/web/20190930221300/https://www.sjrwmd.com/ St. Johns River Water Management District] * [http://www.bbrd.org/ Barefoot Bay Recreation District] ; Judicial branch * [http://www.brevardclerk.us/ Brevard County Clerk of Courts] * [http://www.brevardcounty.us/publicdefender/ Brevard County Public Defender] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211100839/http://www.brevardcounty.us/publicdefender/ |date=December 11, 2011 }} * [http://sa18.state.fl.us/ Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407174913/http://sa18.state.fl.us/nwbio.htm |date=April 7, 2012 }} serving Brevard and [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole]] Counties * [http://www.flcourts18.org/ Circuit and County Court for the 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida] ; Local references * [http://epublications.flatoday.net/factbook/ Florida Today "Fact Book" on Brevard County] * [http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/county/brevard/brevard.htm USF Maps of Historical Brevard County] * [http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/maps.htm Old Florida Map Collection] * [http://nbbd.com/ North Brevard – Titusville, Florida – Community Directory] * [http://visulate.com/ Searchable Database of Brevard County Property Records] * [http://spacecoast.wikispot.org/ Space Coast Wiki] – a community wiki for Brevard County * [http://www.eflorida.com/profiles/CountyReport.asp?CountyID=5&Display=all General business statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105114046/http://eflorida.com/profiles/CountyReport.asp?CountyID=5&Display=all |date=November 5, 2011 }} * [https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/collections/show/47 Brevard County Collection on the RICHES Mosaic Interface] {{Geographic location | Centre = Brevard County, Florida | North = [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia County]] | Northeast = | East = [[Atlantic Ocean]] | Southeast = | South = [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River County]] | Southwest = [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]] | West = [[Orange County, Florida|Orange County]] | Northwest = [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole County]] }} {{Brevard County, Florida}} {{Florida}} {{USLargestMetros}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|28.30|-80.70|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-FL_source:UScensus1990}} [[Category:Brevard County, Florida| ]] [[Category:1844 establishments in Florida Territory]] [[Category:Charter counties in Florida]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1844]]'